Speaker 1: Matthew explained fifteen powerful lessons you need to know. Hidden
Speaker 1: prophecy revealed. The Gospel of Matthew is filled with hidden prophecies,
Speaker 1: divine revelations, and life changing lessons. But do you truly
Speaker 1: understand its depth? What if this book contains secrets about
Speaker 1: the Kingdom of God that could transform your faith forever.
Speaker 1: Matthew is more than a historical account of jesus life.
Speaker 1: It is a spiritual road map, a direct connection between
Speaker 1: the Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment found in Christ.
Speaker 1: It reveals who Jesus truly is, why he came, and
Speaker 1: what his mission means for you. Today, we will explore
Speaker 1: seventeen powerful lessons from the Gospel of Matthew. You will
Speaker 1: discover hidden truths, prophetic connections, and practical insights that will
Speaker 1: deepen your understanding of God's plan. But before we begin,
Speaker 1: take a moment to support this mission. Subscribe to the channel,
Speaker 1: leave your comment below, and share this video with someone
Speaker 1: who needs to hear this message. Let's spread the Word
Speaker 1: of God together. Now, let's pray before we start, Lord,
Speaker 1: open our hearts and minds to receive your truth to day.
Speaker 1: Let these lessons strengthen our faith, reveal more of your kingdom,
Speaker 1: and transform our walk with you. Speak to us through
Speaker 1: your word in Jesus name. Amen. Now let's dive straight
Speaker 1: into the first lesson, one that many overlook but holds
Speaker 1: one of the greatest revelations about God's plan of salvation.
Speaker 1: Jesus genealogy reveals a supernatural plan. Matthew Chapter one, verses
Speaker 1: one through seventeen. The Gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy,
Speaker 1: a passage that many people tend to overlook, seeing it
Speaker 1: as nothing more than a list of names. But what
Speaker 1: if this genialogy is actually the key to understanding God's
Speaker 1: divine plan for salvation. What if every name listed holds
Speaker 1: a deeper meaning, revealing that history has never been random,
Speaker 1: but carefully orchestrated by God from the very beginning. This
Speaker 1: is not just a historical record, it is a profound
Speaker 1: testimony of God's faithfulness across generations. It proves that Jesus
Speaker 1: is not an isolated figure in history. He is the
Speaker 1: fulfillment of an ancient promise, the climax of a divine
Speaker 1: narrative that started long before his birth. The genealogy of
Speaker 1: Jesus establishes his royal and messianic lineage, directly connecting him
Speaker 1: to Abraham and David. This is not a coincidence, It
Speaker 1: is the fulfillment of divine promises made centuries earlier. God
Speaker 1: told Abraham that through his descendants, all the nations of
Speaker 1: the earth would be blessed. This promise, found in the
Speaker 1: Book of Genesis chapter twelve, verse three, is ultimately fulfilled
Speaker 1: in Jesus, who brings salvation not only to Israel, but
Speaker 1: to the entire world. God God also made a covenant
Speaker 1: with David, declaring that his throne would be established forever.
Speaker 1: This promise, recorded in the Second Book of Samuel chapter seven,
Speaker 1: verses twelve through sixteen, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus,
Speaker 1: the eternal King, who reigns over a kingdom that has
Speaker 1: no end. The genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew confirms
Speaker 1: that Jesus is the rightful heir to these covenants, proving
Speaker 1: that he is the long awaited Messiah. Have you ever
Speaker 1: wondered why Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, begins with
Speaker 1: this genialogy. The Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah,
Speaker 1: but they needed proof that Jesus was the one. By
Speaker 1: carefully tracing his ancestry back to Abraham and David, Matthew
Speaker 1: is making an undeniable statement Jesus is the legitimate king,
Speaker 1: the one who has the authority to rule and redeem.
Speaker 1: One of the most remarkable aspects of this genealogy is
Speaker 1: the inclusions of several women, something highly unusual in ancient
Speaker 1: Jewish records. Among them are Tamar, Raehab, Ruth, and Bathsheba.
Speaker 1: These women were not only outsiders by cultural standards, but
Speaker 1: they also had complex and often scandalous backgrounds, yet they
Speaker 1: were instrumental in God's redemptive plan. Tamar was a woman
Speaker 1: who suffered injustice but was ultimately vindicated. Rahab was a
Speaker 1: gentile and a former prostitute, yet she displayed incredible faith
Speaker 1: and became part of the lineage of the Messiah. Ruth
Speaker 1: was a Moabite, an outsider to the covenant people of Israel,
Speaker 1: yet she was grafted into the family of God through
Speaker 1: her loyalty and faithfulness. Bathsheba was involved in one of
Speaker 1: the most tragic and sinful episodes in King David's life,
Speaker 1: yet from her lineage came the Savior of the world.
Speaker 1: Why would God include such unexpected figures in the genealogy
Speaker 1: of his son. The answer is clear. God does not
Speaker 1: chew use people based on their status, their past, or
Speaker 1: their perfection. He chooses those who are willing to trust him,
Speaker 1: showing that his grace extends beyond human limitations. This is
Speaker 1: a testament that God uses the broken, the overlooked, and
Speaker 1: the unlikely to fulfill his divine purposes. If God could
Speaker 1: use people with complicated and messy pasts to bring forth
Speaker 1: the savior of the world, what does that mean for you?
Speaker 1: Have you ever felt unworthy of being part of God's plan?
Speaker 1: This genealogy is proof that your past does not define
Speaker 1: your future. God's grace is greater than your failures, and
Speaker 1: He can use you in ways you never imagined. Another
Speaker 1: significant detail in the genealogy of Jesus is the structure
Speaker 1: in which Matthew presents it. The names are organized into
Speaker 1: three groups of fourteen generations. This numerical pattern is not random,
Speaker 1: it carries deep symbolic meaning, pointing to the sovereignty and
Speaker 1: precision of God's plan. In biblical numerology, the number fourteen
Speaker 1: is associated with completeness and divine order. Furthermore, the name
Speaker 1: David in Hebrew adds up to the number fourteen, reenforcing
Speaker 1: the messianic connection of Jesus to the throne of David.
Speaker 1: This structured arrangement of generations highlights that history is not
Speaker 1: unfolding by chance, but according to God's perfect timing. The
Speaker 1: apostle Paul, in his Letter to the Galatians, Chapter four,
Speaker 1: verse four, explains that when the fullness of time had come,
Speaker 1: God sent his son. This statement aligns perfectly with the
Speaker 1: structured genealogy presented in Matthew. Every name, every generation, every
Speaker 1: detail was leading up to this moment when Jesus would
Speaker 1: step into history as the fulfillment of prophecy. Have you
Speaker 1: ever felt like God is taking too long to answer
Speaker 1: your prayers? The genealogy of Jesus reminds us that God's
Speaker 1: timing is always perfect, even when it seems like nothing
Speaker 1: is happening. He is orchestrating events behind the scenes. Just
Speaker 1: as He prepared the world for the coming of Christ,
Speaker 1: he is preparing the perfect timing for His plans in
Speaker 1: your life. This genealogy is not a minor introduction to
Speaker 1: the Gospel. It is a declaration of divine sovereignty, a
Speaker 1: demonstration that God is in absolute control of history, working
Speaker 1: through generations, nations, and individuals to bring about his perfect
Speaker 1: plan of redemption. From the very first verses of the
Speaker 1: Gospel of Matthew, we see that Jesus did not come
Speaker 1: into the world randomly. He came as the fulfillment of
Speaker 1: thousands of years of prophecy, as the promised seed of Abraham,
Speaker 1: as the eternal King from the line of David, and
Speaker 1: as the redeemer who would extend God's grace to all people.
Speaker 1: This is the foundation upon which the rest of the
Speaker 1: Gospel is built. Jesus is not just a religious teacher.
Speaker 1: He is the centerpiece of God's eternal plan. He is
Speaker 1: the one through whom the entire course of history finds
Speaker 1: its ultimate purpose. What does this mean for you today?
Speaker 1: If God planned every detail of history so precisely, do
Speaker 1: you think He has forgotten about you? The genealogy of
Speaker 1: Jesus is a reminder that nothing in your life is
Speaker 1: by accident. God is writing your story, just as He
Speaker 1: wrote the story of redemption through generations before Christ. As
Speaker 1: we continue this journey through the Gospel of Matthew, we
Speaker 1: will see how this divine plan unfolds, revealing the teachings, miracles,
Speaker 1: and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. From his birth to
Speaker 1: his resurrection. Every event is a fulfillment of the promises
Speaker 1: woven throughout scripture. This genealogy is not just an ancient record.
Speaker 1: It is a powerful testimony that God has been working
Speaker 1: through generations to bring salvation to the world. And if
Speaker 1: He was orchestrating history with such precision, then He is
Speaker 1: certainly working in your life as well. The story of
Speaker 1: Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. It was written into
Speaker 1: the fabric of history long before he was born. And
Speaker 1: to day, as you hear this message, remember that you
Speaker 1: are also part of God's divine plan. Nothing in your
Speaker 1: life is by accident. God has a purpose for you,
Speaker 1: and His hand is guiding every step of your journey.
Speaker 1: The virgin birth the greatest miracle of the incarnation Matthew
Speaker 1: Chapter one, Verses eighteen through twenty five. The Gospel of
Speaker 1: Matthew presents one of the most astonishing and supernatural events
Speaker 1: in human history, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. This
Speaker 1: is not just a miraculous occurrence, It is the foundation
Speaker 1: of the Christian faith, a divine act that defies natural laws,
Speaker 1: and fulfills an ancient prophecy given by God himself. More
Speaker 1: than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ. The
Speaker 1: prophet Isaiah declared a sign from the Lord, the vergin
Speaker 1: will conceive and give birth to a son, and they
Speaker 1: will call him Immanuel, which means God with us. This prophecy,
Speaker 1: found in the Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verse fourteen,
Speaker 1: reveals that the coming of the Messiah would not be
Speaker 1: an ordinary event. It would be a supernatural intervention, marking
Speaker 1: the moment when God would step into human history in
Speaker 1: the most profound way possible. Have you ever wondered why
Speaker 1: the virgin birth was necessary. Could Jesus have been born
Speaker 1: through natural means and still fulfilled his purpose? The answer
Speaker 1: is no. The virgin birth was not just an impressive miracle.
Speaker 1: It was essential to the identity and mission of Christ.
Speaker 1: Jesus did not have an earthly father because his conception
Speaker 1: was directly from God. He was born of a virgin
Speaker 1: conceived by the Holy Spirit, which means he was not
Speaker 1: tainted by the sinful nature inherited from Adam. Every human
Speaker 1: being born through natural conception carries the stain of original sin,
Speaker 1: passed down from generation to generation. Since the fall in
Speaker 1: the Garden of Eden. But Jesus was different. He was
Speaker 1: wholly from the moment of conception, untouched by sin, the
Speaker 1: spotless lamb of God, fully divine and fully human. This
Speaker 1: truth is crucial because in order for Jesus to be
Speaker 1: the perfect sacrifice for sin, he had to be without
Speaker 1: sin himself. If he had been born like every other human,
Speaker 1: he would have inherited the same fallen nature that separates
Speaker 1: mankind from God. Instead, he was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Speaker 1: making him the only person in history born without the
Speaker 1: corruption of sin. This is why he alone could take
Speaker 1: upon himself the sins of the world and offer redemption
Speaker 1: to all who believe in him. The Angel of the
Speaker 1: Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and reassured him
Speaker 1: of this divine truth. Joseph, upon learning that Mary was pregnant,
Speaker 1: initially considered divorcing her quietly, as he did not understand
Speaker 1: the supernatural nature of her pregnancy, but the Angel declared
Speaker 1: to him, do not be afraid to take Mary as
Speaker 1: your wife, because what is conceived in her is from
Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit. This statement confirmed that Jesus was not
Speaker 1: the result of human will, but of divine purpose. His
Speaker 1: name was to be called Jesus, which means the Lord saves.
Speaker 1: This name was not chosen randomly, It was a declaration
Speaker 1: of his mission. Jesus came into the world for one
Speaker 1: ultimate reason, to save his people from their sins. From
Speaker 1: the moment of his conception, his destiny was set. He
Speaker 1: was born to redeem, to restore, and to reconcile humanity
Speaker 1: back to God. But he was also called Immanuel, meaning
Speaker 1: God with us. This is one of the most profound
Speaker 1: revelations in all of Scripture. Jesus was not just a
Speaker 1: messenger of God. He was God himself, clothed in human flesh,
Speaker 1: walking among his creation. Think about the weight of that reality.
Speaker 1: The same God who created the universe, who spoke the
Speaker 1: stars into existence, who formed mankind from the dust of
Speaker 1: the earth, chose to humble himself and enter our world
Speaker 1: as a baby. Have you ever felt alone or abandoned?
Speaker 1: The name Immanuel is the assurance that God has never
Speaker 1: left us. He did not remain distant in the heavens.
Speaker 1: He stepped into our reality. He walked among us. He
Speaker 1: experienced hunger, pain, rejection, and suffering. He lived as one
Speaker 1: of us so that he could redeem us. This means
Speaker 1: that whatever you are facing today, you are not alone.
Speaker 1: God is with you. He is not a distant figure
Speaker 1: watching from afar. He is present in every moment of
Speaker 1: your life, guiding you, strengthening you, and walking with you
Speaker 1: through every trial. The virgin birth is also a powerful
Speaker 1: demonstration that God always fulfills his promises. More than seven
Speaker 1: hundred years passed between the prophecy of Isaiah and its
Speaker 1: fulfillment in Matthew, yet God remained faithful to his word.
Speaker 1: Have you ever felt like God is taking too long
Speaker 1: to fulfill his promises in your life? The birth of
Speaker 1: Jesus is proof that God's timing is always perfect, even
Speaker 1: when it seems like nothing is happening, Even when years
Speaker 1: or decades pass, God is working behind the scenes orchestrating
Speaker 1: everything according to his divine plan. This miraculous birth also
Speaker 1: reminds us that God works in ways that defy human understanding.
Speaker 1: No one could have imagined that the savior of the
Speaker 1: world would come in such a humble and unexpected manner.
Speaker 1: The religious leaders of the time were waiting for a
Speaker 1: mighty warrior, a king who would overthrow their oppressors, but
Speaker 1: God chose to send his son as a helpless baby
Speaker 1: born in a lowly manger to a humble virgin. This
Speaker 1: teaches us that God's ways are higher than our ways.
Speaker 1: He does not always move according to human expectations. He
Speaker 1: works in ways that challenge our understanding and require faith.
Speaker 1: If God could bring forth the Messiah through a virgin,
Speaker 1: what makes you think he cannot accomplish the impossible in
Speaker 1: your life? Are you facing a situation that seems impossible?
Speaker 1: The virgin birth is a reminder that nothing is too
Speaker 1: hard for God. If he can bring forth a child
Speaker 1: from a virgin, he can open doors where there are none.
Speaker 1: He can provide when all hope seems lost. He can
Speaker 1: fulfill his promises in ways beyond human comprehension. As Joseph
Speaker 1: woke from his dream, he did exactly as the angel commanded.
Speaker 1: He took Mary as his wife and honored God's plan.
Speaker 1: Joseph's obedience is a lesson for us when God speaks,
Speaker 1: when he reveals his will, our response should be immediate
Speaker 1: faith and trust, even when we do not fully understand.
Speaker 1: So what does this all mean for us to day?
Speaker 1: The virgin birth is not just a theological concept, It
Speaker 1: is the foundation of our faith. It declares that Jesus
Speaker 1: is the sinless son of God, the promised Messiah, the
Speaker 1: Savior who came to redeem the world. It reminds us
Speaker 1: that God fulfills his promises, that he works in supernatural ways,
Speaker 1: and that He is with us in every moment. The
Speaker 1: birth of Jesus was the greatest miracle in history, but
Speaker 1: it was only the beginning. His life, his teachings, his sacrifice,
Speaker 1: and his resurrection would reveal even greater truths. The story
Speaker 1: of Immanuel God with us continues to unfold, and it
Speaker 1: has the power to transform every life that believes in him.
Speaker 1: The Wise Men and the spiritual war behind Christ's birth Matthew,
Speaker 1: Chapter two, Verses one through twelve. The birth of Jesus
Speaker 1: was not just the beginning of a new era. It
Speaker 1: was the greatest act of divine intervention in history. But
Speaker 1: have you ever considered that from the very moment of
Speaker 1: his arrival, a spiritual war was raging. The visit of
Speaker 1: the wise Men from the East and the violent reaction
Speaker 1: of King Herod revealed something deeper. The birth of Christ
Speaker 1: was not only a historical event. It was a battlefield
Speaker 1: where the forces of darkness tried to stop the light
Speaker 1: from shining. The wise men, often referred to as the magi,
Speaker 1: came from distant lands to seek the new born king.
Speaker 1: They were likely scholars and astronomers, possibly from Persia or Babylon,
Speaker 1: who studied the stars and ancient prophecies. They saw an
Speaker 1: unusual star rise in the sky and understood that it
Speaker 1: was a sign of something extraordinary. What would make powerful
Speaker 1: men from another land travel such a great distance. How
Speaker 1: did they recognize that this child was not just another ruler,
Speaker 1: but the fulfillment of something divine. The answer lies in
Speaker 1: prophecy centuries earlier. The prophet Balam, in the Book of Numbers,
Speaker 1: chapter twenty four, verse seventeen, spoke of a star that
Speaker 1: would rise from Jacob and a scepter that would emerge
Speaker 1: from Israel. This was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah.
Speaker 1: The wise men, whether through studying Jewish scriptures or divine revelation,
Speaker 1: understood that this was no ordinary king. They were drawn
Speaker 1: to Jesus because they recognized him as the fulfillment of
Speaker 1: God's promise. But their journey was not just a simple pilgrimage.
Speaker 1: It was a declaration that Jesus was the king of
Speaker 1: all nations. They were gentiles, not Jews, yet they came
Speaker 1: to worship him. This is a powerful symbol that Jesus
Speaker 1: did not come only for Israel. He came for the
Speaker 1: whole world. His birth was the moment when salvation was
Speaker 1: extended beyond one nation, opening the word way for all
Speaker 1: people to come to him. When they arrived in Jerusalem,
Speaker 1: they asked a dangerous question, where is the one who
Speaker 1: has been born? King of the Jews? We saw his
Speaker 1: star when it rose and have come to worship him.
Speaker 1: This question reached the ears of King Herod, a man
Speaker 1: known for his cruelty and paranoia. He had spent his
Speaker 1: entire reign eliminating anyone he saw as a threat, including
Speaker 1: members of his own family. The idea of a new
Speaker 1: born king terrified him. Herod called together the religious leaders
Speaker 1: and asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
Speaker 1: They confirmed the prophecy found in the Book of Micah,
Speaker 1: chapter five, verse two, which foretold that a ruler would
Speaker 1: come from Bethlehem. Instead of rejoicing at the fulfillment of
Speaker 1: God's promise, Herod saw it as a threat. Have you
Speaker 1: ever noticed that whenever God's kingdom advances, opposition rises? Herod
Speaker 1: represents more than just a political figure. He is a
Speaker 1: symbol of the resistance of Satan against the plans of God.
Speaker 1: From the very beginning, the forces of darkness sought to
Speaker 1: destroy Jesus. The enemy knew that if this child lived,
Speaker 1: the world would never be the same. Herod secretly met
Speaker 1: with the wise men, pretending that he wanted to worship
Speaker 1: Jesus as well, but his heart was filled with deception.
Speaker 1: He ordered them to find the child and report back
Speaker 1: to him so that he too could go and worship.
Speaker 1: This was a lie. His true intention was to kill
Speaker 1: the new born king, but God was always in control.
Speaker 1: The wise Men, after finding Jesus and worshiping him, were
Speaker 1: warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They
Speaker 1: obeyed and went back to their country by another route.
Speaker 1: This simple act of obedience foiled the plans of an
Speaker 1: earthly king and preserved the life of the Savior. Their
Speaker 1: gifts were not random. Each one carried deep prophetic significance.
Speaker 1: Gold represented kingship, declaring Jesus as the true and rightful king.
Speaker 1: Incense was used in worship, symbolizing his divinity, a recognition
Speaker 1: that he was more than a man. Mirror a burial
Speaker 1: spice foreshadowed his suffering and death, pointing to the sacrifice
Speaker 1: he would one day make. Have you ever considered how
Speaker 1: profound this moment was a group of gentile scholars traveled
Speaker 1: miles to bow before a baby in a humble house.
Speaker 1: They recognized him as King, as God, and as the
Speaker 1: one who would die for the sins of the world. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: the religious leaders in Jerusalem, who had the prophecies in
Speaker 1: their hands, did nothing. They did not seek him, they
Speaker 1: did not worship him. They remained indifferent. This story forces
Speaker 1: us to ask ourselves a question. Who are we in
Speaker 1: this story? Are we like the wise men, willing to
Speaker 1: pursue the truth no matter the cost. Are we like
Speaker 1: the religious leaders, knowledgeable but spiritually blind, or are we
Speaker 1: like him Herod, resisting the authority of Christ over our lives.
Speaker 1: From the very beginning, Jesus faced opposition. The spiritual war
Speaker 1: was already raging, but nothing could stop the plan of God. Herod,
Speaker 1: despite his power, could not eliminate the true King. The
Speaker 1: wise men, despite the dangers, found their way to the Messiah.
Speaker 1: Every detail was under God's control. This is a powerful
Speaker 1: reminder that no force of darkness can ever prevail against
Speaker 1: the purposes of God. The birth of Christ was not
Speaker 1: just the arrival of a savior. It was the invasion
Speaker 1: of light into a dark world. It was the declaration
Speaker 1: that the rule of sin and death was coming to
Speaker 1: an end. What does this mean for us today? It
Speaker 1: means that when you walk with Christ, you will face opposition.
Speaker 1: The enemy will try to silence, discourage, and destroy the
Speaker 1: work of God in your life. But just as God
Speaker 1: protected Jesus, just as he guided the wise Men, he
Speaker 1: is guiding and protecting you. The wise Men teach us
Speaker 1: that true worship requires pursuit. They did not wait for
Speaker 1: Jesus to come to them. They went after him. They
Speaker 1: sacrificed time, resources, and safety to bow before him. They
Speaker 1: remind us that finding Jesus is worth every cost. Herod
Speaker 1: teaches us that resisting God only leads to destruction. He
Speaker 1: thought he could fight against the plans of God, but
Speaker 1: he only sealed his own fate. No one who stands
Speaker 1: against the will of God can succeed. And finally, the
Speaker 1: Gifts teach us that Jesus is our King, our God,
Speaker 1: and our sacrifice. He deserves our highest devotion, our deepest worship,
Speaker 1: and our complete surrender. So What will you do with
Speaker 1: this truth? Will you seek Him with all your heart?
Speaker 1: Will you worship Him with everything you have? Will you
Speaker 1: trust that, no matter what battles you face, the victory
Speaker 1: belongs to the Lord. The story of the Wise Men
Speaker 1: is more than a tale of a journey. It is
Speaker 1: a revelation of spiritual warfare, of divine protect action, and
Speaker 1: of the unstoppable purpose of God. Jesus came into a
Speaker 1: world that tried to resist him, but his light could
Speaker 1: not be extinguished. And today that same light is shining
Speaker 1: into the darkness, calling all who are willing to seek
Speaker 1: him the call to repentance. With John the Baptist Matthew
Speaker 1: Chapter three, verses one through twelve. Before Jesus began his ministry,
Speaker 1: before the miracles, before the teachings that would change the world,
Speaker 1: there was a voice crying out in the wilderness, a
Speaker 1: voice calling people to prepare to turn away from their
Speaker 1: old ways and to make room for something greater. This
Speaker 1: voice belonged to John the Baptist, a man chosen by
Speaker 1: God to prepare the way for the Messiah. His message
Speaker 1: was not one of comfort or convenience. It was a
Speaker 1: call to radical transformation, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven
Speaker 1: has come near. These words recorded in them the Gospel
Speaker 1: of Matthew, Chapter three, verse two, were not just a warning.
Speaker 1: They were an invitation, an invitation to turn away from
Speaker 1: sin and step into the new reality that Jesus was
Speaker 1: about to reveal. But what does it mean to repent?
Speaker 1: Is repentance just feeling sorry for what we have done?
Speaker 1: Or is it something deeper? The Greek word for repentance, metanoia,
Speaker 1: means a complete change of mind and direction. It is
Speaker 1: not just regret. It is a total transformation, a turning
Speaker 1: away from sin and a turning toward God. John the
Speaker 1: Baptist preached in the wilderness, not in the cities or synagogues.
Speaker 1: His location was symbolic. The wilderness represented a place of testing,
Speaker 1: of purification, of preparation. It was in the wilderness that
Speaker 1: Israel wandered before entering the Promised Land. It was in
Speaker 1: the wilderness that Jesus would later face temptation. And now
Speaker 1: it was in the wilderness that people were called to
Speaker 1: leave behind their old lives and prepare for the coming
Speaker 1: of the King. Why did God choose John for this mission?
Speaker 1: He was not a priest in the temple. He did
Speaker 1: not wear fine clothes or seek the approval of religious leaders.
Speaker 1: He lived in the desert, dressed in camel's hair and
Speaker 1: ate locusts and wild honey. He was a prophet set apart,
Speaker 1: unshaken by the world, devoted entirely to the message God
Speaker 1: had given him. His life itself was a testimony that
Speaker 1: the Kingdom of Heaven was not about earthly power, but
Speaker 1: about spiritual awakening. People from Jerusalem, Judea, and all around
Speaker 1: the Jordan came to hear him. They confessed their sins
Speaker 1: and were baptized in the river, an outward sign of
Speaker 1: an inward transformation. But John knew that baptism with water
Speaker 1: was only the beginning. I baptize you with water for repentance.
Speaker 1: But after me comes one who is more powerful than I,
Speaker 1: whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will
Speaker 1: baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John's baptism
Speaker 1: was symbolic, but Jesus would bring something greater. Water cleansed
Speaker 1: the outside, but the Holy Spirit would transform the inside.
Speaker 1: Fire would refine, purify, and empower. This was not just
Speaker 1: about changing behavior. It was about receiving a new heart,
Speaker 1: a new spirit, a new life. But not everyone came
Speaker 1: with sincerity. When John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees approaching,
Speaker 1: he did not welcome them with kindness. Instead, he rebuked
Speaker 1: them harshly. You brood of vipers who warned you to
Speaker 1: flee from the coming wrath, produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Speaker 1: Why was John so direct because these religious leaders were
Speaker 1: more concerned with appearances than with true transformation. They believed
Speaker 1: their ancestryous children of Abraham was enough to secure their
Speaker 1: place with God. But John warned them that God was
Speaker 1: not looking for religion heritage. He was looking for hearts
Speaker 1: that were truly changed. This is a warning for us
Speaker 1: to day as well. It is easy to rely on traditions,
Speaker 1: on outward expressions of faith, on the belief that because
Speaker 1: we go to church or know the Bible, we are
Speaker 1: right with God. But John's message is clear. True repentance
Speaker 1: produces fruit. It is not about saying the right words,
Speaker 1: It is about living a life that reflects a changed heart.
Speaker 1: Have you ever considered whether your life is bearing fruit?
Speaker 1: When people look at you, do they see evidence of
Speaker 1: God's transformation? Or do they see someone who claims to
Speaker 1: follow Christ but lives no differently from the world. John's
Speaker 1: message was urgent. He described the Messiah as holding a
Speaker 1: winnowing fork in his hand, separating the wheat from the chaff.
Speaker 1: The wheat would be gathered, but the chaff would be
Speaker 1: burned with unquenchable fire. This was not a passive call
Speaker 1: to reflection. This was a declaration that the tie time
Speaker 1: to choose was now. Repentance is not optional. It is
Speaker 1: the gateway to the Kingdom of God. It is the
Speaker 1: first step in experiencing the power and presence of Christ.
Speaker 1: Without repentance, there is no transformation. Without transformation, there is
Speaker 1: no true relationship with God. So how do we prepare
Speaker 1: our hearts today? We start by acknowledging that we need change.
Speaker 1: We surrender our pride, our sin, our resistance. We come
Speaker 1: before God with honesty, asking him to renew us from
Speaker 1: the inside out. Have you truly repented or have you
Speaker 1: simply adopted the appearance of faith? Are you producing fruit
Speaker 1: that reflects a transformed life? Or are you relying on
Speaker 1: tradition and knowledge without real surrender. John the Baptist's message
Speaker 1: was not just for the people of his time. It
Speaker 1: is for us today. The Kingdom of Heaven is near.
Speaker 1: The call to repentance is now. If we want to
Speaker 1: experience the fullness of God's presence and power, we must
Speaker 1: abandon sin and give ourselves completely to Him. The temptation
Speaker 1: of Jesus how to overcome the enemy's traps Matthew, Chapter four,
Speaker 1: verses one through eleven. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was
Speaker 1: led by the spirit into the wilderness. This was not
Speaker 1: a mistake. It was not an attack from the enemy.
Speaker 1: It was part of God's divine plan. Before Jesus would
Speaker 1: begin his public ministry, before he would preach the Sermon
Speaker 1: on the Mount or perform a single miracle, he had
Speaker 1: to face a direct confrontation with Satan. Why did this
Speaker 1: have to happen? What does it mean that the son
Speaker 1: of God had to go through temptation? The answer reveals
Speaker 1: something profound. Jesus came not only to save us, but
Speaker 1: to show us how to walk in victory. He came
Speaker 1: to undo the failure of Adam, to triumph where Israel
Speaker 1: had failed, and to prove that obedience to go God
Speaker 1: is the key to overcoming the enemy. For forty days
Speaker 1: and forty nights, Jesus fasted. He was physically weak, but
Speaker 1: spiritually strong. And it was in this moment of physical
Speaker 1: vulnerability that Satan appeared, launching a direct attack. This is
Speaker 1: how the enemy works. He comes when we are tired, isolated,
Speaker 1: and weak. But Jesus would not be defeated. Satan's strategy
Speaker 1: followed a pattern. He used three temptations, each targeting a
Speaker 1: different aspect of human weakness, and in each case Jesus
Speaker 1: responded with the word of God, demonstrating the ultimate weapon
Speaker 1: against the lies of the enemy. The first temptation was
Speaker 1: aimed at physical need. The tempter said, if you are
Speaker 1: the son of God, tell these stones to become bred.
Speaker 1: This was not just about hunger. It was a challenge
Speaker 1: to Jesus's identity. Satan was saying, if you are really
Speaker 1: who you claim to be, prove it by you using
Speaker 1: your power for yourself. How often does the enemy tempt
Speaker 1: us in this way? He whispers, If God really loved you,
Speaker 1: wouldn't he take care of this problem? If you really
Speaker 1: are a child of God, why are you suffering? The
Speaker 1: temptation is to take matters into our own hands, to
Speaker 1: trust in our own ability instead of relying on God's provision.
Speaker 1: But Jesus did not fall into the trap. He responded,
Speaker 1: it is written, man shall not live on bread alone,
Speaker 1: but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Speaker 1: He quoted scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy, reminding Satan
Speaker 1: and himself that true life is not sustained by physical food,
Speaker 1: but by complete dependence on God. The second temptation was
Speaker 1: aimed at pride and spiritual manipulation. Satan took Jesus to
Speaker 1: the highest point of the temple and said, if you
Speaker 1: are the son of God, throw yourself down. Then, in
Speaker 1: a cunning twist, Satan quoted scripture himself, saying that God
Speaker 1: would command his angels to protect him. This is a
Speaker 1: dangerous temptation because it disguises itself as faith. It says,
Speaker 1: if you really trust God, prove it, force his hand,
Speaker 1: make him show his power on your terms. But this
Speaker 1: is not faith, this is testing God. Jesus responded again
Speaker 1: with the word it is also written, do not put
Speaker 1: the Lord your God to the test. Faith is about
Speaker 1: trusting God's will, not demanding that he act according to
Speaker 1: our expectations. Jesus refused to manipulate God, and so must we.
Speaker 1: The third temptation was aimed at power and control Satan
Speaker 1: took Jesus to a high mountain, showed him all the
Speaker 1: kingdoms of the world and said, all this I will
Speaker 1: give you if you bow down and worship me. This
Speaker 1: was the greatest deception of all. Satan was offering Jesus
Speaker 1: a short cut. He was saying, you do not have
Speaker 1: to suffer, you do not have to go to the cross,
Speaker 1: and I will give you everything you came for. How
Speaker 1: often does the enemy offer us short cuts. He tells
Speaker 1: us that integrity is not necessary, that compromise is acceptable,
Speaker 1: that we can take the easy way out and still
Speaker 1: achieve our goals. But every shortcut that leads away from
Speaker 1: obedience to God is a trap. Jesus did not hesitate
Speaker 1: away from me, Satan, for it is written, worship the
Speaker 1: Lord your God, and serve him only. With those words,
Speaker 1: the battle was over. Satan had no power against the
Speaker 1: authority of God's word. He left, and angels came to
Speaker 1: minister to Jesus. What can we learn from this? The
Speaker 1: enemy always attacks in three main ways. He tempts us
Speaker 1: to rely on ourselves instead of God. He tempts us
Speaker 1: to manipulate God instead of trusting him. And he tempts
Speaker 1: us to take short cuts instead of obeying God's perfect plan.
Speaker 1: Jesus overcame every temptation by standing on the truth of scripture.
Speaker 1: He did not but argue with Satan. He did not
Speaker 1: try to reason with him. He simply declared it is written.
Speaker 1: This is the key to victory and spiritual warfare. Are
Speaker 1: you struggling with temptation today? Are you facing pressures to compromise,
Speaker 1: to doubt God's provision, to take control instead of trusting him?
Speaker 1: Remember what Jesus did. Fill your heart with the word
Speaker 1: of God. Declare his promises. Stand firm in obedience. The
Speaker 1: battle against temptation is real, but so is the power
Speaker 1: of God. Jesus has already shown us the way to victory.
Speaker 1: Now it is up to us to follow his example.
Speaker 1: The Sermon on the Mount The Kingdom's Code of Life Matthew,
Speaker 1: Chapters five through seven. The Sermon on the Mount is
Speaker 1: one of the most profound and revolutionary teachings in all
Speaker 1: of Scripture. Spoken by Jesus on a hillside overlooking the
Speaker 1: Sea of Galilee. These words were not just a collection
Speaker 1: of moral lessons. They were a declaration of what it
Speaker 1: means to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 1: This sermon was not meant to conform to human expectations,
Speaker 1: but to challenge them. It was not about earthly power, wealth,
Speaker 1: or status. It was about a transformed heart, a new
Speaker 1: way of living that reflected the values of God's kingdom
Speaker 1: rather than the systems of the world. Jesus began this
Speaker 1: sermon with what are known as the Beatitudes, a series
Speaker 1: of blessings that turn human wisdom upside down. Blessed are
Speaker 1: the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Speaker 1: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Speaker 1: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Speaker 1: In the world that honors strength, self sufficiency, and pride,
Speaker 1: Jesus taught the true blessing comes to those who recognize
Speaker 1: their need for God. Have you ever wondered why the
Speaker 1: Kingdom of God seems to operate so differently from the
Speaker 1: kingdoms of this world. Why does Jesus say that the
Speaker 1: meek will inherit the earth when society often rewards the
Speaker 1: aggressive and the ambitious. Why does he call the pure
Speaker 1: in heart blessed when the world celebrates power and influence.
Speaker 1: The answer is simple, but radical. The Kingdom of Heaven
Speaker 1: is not built on human effort. It is built on surrender.
Speaker 1: It is for those who acknowledge their need for God,
Speaker 1: who hunger for righteousness, who extend mercy, and who strive
Speaker 1: for purity in heart. The values of the kingdom are
Speaker 1: not about external success, but about internal transformation. Jesus continued
Speaker 1: his sermon by addressing righteousness, but not the kind that
Speaker 1: the religious leaders of his time displayed. Unless your righteousness
Speaker 1: surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law,
Speaker 1: you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This
Speaker 1: was a shocking statement. The Pharisees were seen as the
Speaker 1: most devout and disciplined in their religious practices, yet Jesus
Speaker 1: was saying that their form of righteousness was not enough.
Speaker 1: Why because it was external. It was based on appearances, rituals,
Speaker 1: and legalistic obedience, rather than a heart truly devoted to God.
Speaker 1: True righteousness is not just about avoiding sin on the outside.
Speaker 1: It is about purity of heart. Jesus went deeper than
Speaker 1: the law itself. He did not just say do not murder.
Speaker 1: He said do not even harbor anger in your heart.
Speaker 1: He did not just say, do not commit adultery. He said,
Speaker 1: do not even look at someone with lust. He was
Speaker 1: showing that sin is not just an external action, it
Speaker 1: begins in the heart. This is why the Sermon on
Speaker 1: the Mount is not just about behavior, it is about transformation.
Speaker 1: Jesus was calling people to a higher standard, not through legalism,
Speaker 1: but through a heart completely surrendered to God. He also
Speaker 1: addressed prayer, teaching that true prayer is not about public
Speaker 1: displays of spirituality, but about intimate communion with the Father.
Speaker 1: When you pray, go into your room, close the door
Speaker 1: and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your father,
Speaker 1: who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Speaker 1: How often do we seek recognition for our faith? How
Speaker 1: often do we do good works to be seen by
Speaker 1: others rather than to please God. Jesus was calling his
Speaker 1: followers to authenticity, to a faith that was not about
Speaker 1: impressing people, but about genuine devotion to God. It was
Speaker 1: in this sermon that Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer,
Speaker 1: a model of how we should pray, not with empty repetitions,
Speaker 1: but with sincerity and reverence our Father in heaven, hallowed
Speaker 1: be your name, your Kingdom, Come, Your will be done
Speaker 1: on earth as it is in heaven. This was not
Speaker 1: just a prayer, It was a declaration, a declaration that
Speaker 1: the Kingdom of God is meant to transform not just individuals,
Speaker 1: but the world itself, that His will, his righteousness, and
Speaker 1: his presence should be manifested in every aspect of life.
Speaker 1: Jesus then turned to the topic of trust. Do not
Speaker 1: worry about your life, what you will eat or drink,
Speaker 1: or about your body what you will wear. He pointed
Speaker 1: to the birds of the air and the flowers of
Speaker 1: the field, showing that if God takes care of them,
Speaker 1: how much more will he take care of his children.
Speaker 1: Do you ever struggle with worry? Do you find yourself
Speaker 1: anxious about the future, about provision, about things you cannot control.
Speaker 1: Jesus was not saying that life would be free of difficulties.
Speaker 1: He was saying that the answer to anxiety is trust.
Speaker 1: Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and
Speaker 1: all these things will be given to you as well.
Speaker 1: One of the most powerful moments in this sermon comes
Speaker 1: near the end, when Jesus gives a warning enter through
Speaker 1: the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and broad
Speaker 1: is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter
Speaker 1: through it. But mall is the gate and narrow the
Speaker 1: road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Speaker 1: This is a sobering truth. The path of the Kingdom
Speaker 1: is not the easy road. It is not the popular road.
Speaker 1: It requires sacrifice, humility, and obedience. But it is the
Speaker 1: only road that leads to life. Jesus concluded with a
Speaker 1: final illustration, one that still echoes through history. Everyone who
Speaker 1: hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
Speaker 1: is like a wise man who built his house on
Speaker 1: the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and
Speaker 1: the winds blew and beat against that house. Yet it
Speaker 1: did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Speaker 1: What is your life built on. Is it built on
Speaker 1: the temporary things of this world, on status, success, approval,
Speaker 1: or is it built on the eternal truth of God's Word.
Speaker 1: The storms of life will come, the winds will blow,
Speaker 1: but only those whose foundation is Christ will stand. The
Speaker 1: Sermon on the Mount is not just another teaching. It
Speaker 1: is the very heart of the Gospel. It is the
Speaker 1: blueprint for how we are to live as citizens of
Speaker 1: the Kingdom of Heaven. It calls us to humility, to righteousness,
Speaker 1: to trust, and to obedience. It challenges us to let
Speaker 1: go of earthly thinking and embrace the values of eternity.
Speaker 1: So as we reflect on this sermon, ask yourself, am
Speaker 1: I truly living as a citizen of the kingdom? Is
Speaker 1: my heart aligned with God's ways? Or am I still
Speaker 1: clinging to the values of the world. The invitation is open,
Speaker 1: The kingdom is at hand, but the choice is ours.
Speaker 1: Miracles and Jesus power over nature, diseases, and demons. Matthew
Speaker 1: Chapters eight through nine. The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus
Speaker 1: not just as a teacher of divine truth, but as
Speaker 1: the one who holds absolute power over all things. His
Speaker 1: or the authority is demonstrated through miracles, signs that reveal
Speaker 1: who he truly is. He is not just a prophet
Speaker 1: or a wise man. He is the Son of God,
Speaker 1: with dominion over sickness, nature, and even the forces of darkness.
Speaker 1: Have you ever wondered why Jesus performed miracles? Was it
Speaker 1: just to show compassion? Was it merely to prove his identity?
Speaker 1: Every miracle in scripture serves a greater purpose. They reveal
Speaker 1: the nature of God. They confirm the arrival of His kingdom,
Speaker 1: and they call people to faith. They are not just
Speaker 1: supernatural acts, they are divine declarations that the power of
Speaker 1: God is now present on earth. In Matthew chapters eight
Speaker 1: and nine, we see three distinct types of miracles, healings,
Speaker 1: authority over nature, and deliverance from demonic oppression. Each of
Speaker 1: these displays a different aspect of Christ's power. The first
Speaker 1: category of miracles is healing the sick. The chapter begins
Speaker 1: with Jesus encountering a leper. Leprosy was one of the
Speaker 1: most feared diseases in ancient times. It not only caused
Speaker 1: physical suffering, but also social and religious isolation. The leper,
Speaker 1: in desperation, came to Jesus and said, Lord, if you
Speaker 1: are willing, you can make me clean. Notice his words.
Speaker 1: He did not doubt jesus power. He questioned his willingness.
Speaker 1: How many of us today struggle with this same thought.
Speaker 1: We believe that God is able, but we wonder if
Speaker 1: he is willing. We know he has power, but we
Speaker 1: question whether he will use it in our lives. Jesus'
Speaker 1: response is profound. I am willing be clean. With a
Speaker 1: simple touch, the man was healed instantly. But this was
Speaker 1: more than a physical healing. It was a restoration of dignity.
Speaker 1: In a single moment, Jesus broke the social and religious
Speaker 1: barriers that had kept this man in isolation. Jesus healing
Speaker 1: power did not stop there. He healed the soervant of
Speaker 1: a Roman centurion, demonstrating that his mercy extended beyond the
Speaker 1: Jewish people. He healed Peter's mother in law, showing that
Speaker 1: no sickness was too small for his concern. He cast
Speaker 1: out spirits with a word and healed all who were
Speaker 1: brought to him, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that the
Speaker 1: Messiah would bear our infirmities. Do you need healing today,
Speaker 1: whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Jesus is the same yesterday,
Speaker 1: today and forever. His power has not changed. The same
Speaker 1: compassion he showed two thousand years ago is the same
Speaker 1: compassion he has for you now. The second category of
Speaker 1: miracles is authority over nature. One of the most dramatic
Speaker 1: moments in the Gospel of Matthew happens when Jesus and
Speaker 1: his disciples are caught in a violent storm while crossing
Speaker 1: the Sea of Galilee. The winds are raging. The waves
Speaker 1: are crashing into the boat, and experienced fishermen begin to
Speaker 1: pans in their fear. They wake Jesus, crying out, Lord,
Speaker 1: save us, We are going to drown. Have you ever
Speaker 1: felt this way? Have you ever been caught in a
Speaker 1: storm that seemed too powerful for you to handle? Have
Speaker 1: you ever wondered if Jesus was paying attention? The disciples
Speaker 1: were terrified, but Jesus was at peace. He rebuked them, First,
Speaker 1: you of little faith, why are you so afraid? And
Speaker 1: then he rebuked the storm with a simple command. The
Speaker 1: winds and waves obeyed him, and suddenly there was complete calm.
Speaker 1: The disciples were amazed. They had seen him healed diseases,
Speaker 1: but this was something different. Who is this? They asked?
Speaker 1: That even the wind and the waves obey him. This
Speaker 1: miracle is a powerful reminder that Jesus is not just
Speaker 1: lord over people, He is Lord over all creation. The
Speaker 1: same God who spoke the universe into existence, who commanded
Speaker 1: the waters to separate in Genesis, was now standing in
Speaker 1: a boat, demonstrating divine authority over the forces of nature.
Speaker 1: What storm are you facing in your life right now?
Speaker 1: Are you overwhelmed by fear? Wondering if Jesus sees what
Speaker 1: you are going through. Remember this, he is in the
Speaker 1: boat with you. He is not distant, He is present,
Speaker 1: and when the time is right, he will speak and
Speaker 1: the storm will cease. The third category of miracles is
Speaker 1: deliverance from demons. After calming the storm, Jesus and his
Speaker 1: disciples arrived in the region of the Gadarinas, where they
Speaker 1: encountered two men possessed by demons. These men lived among
Speaker 1: the tombs, violent and uncontrollable, terrorizing anyone who passed by.
Speaker 1: But when Jesus approached, the demons immediately recognized him. They
Speaker 1: cried out, what do you want with us, Son of God?
Speaker 1: Have you come to torture us before the appointed time?
Speaker 1: Notice their words. They knew exactly who Jesus was. They
Speaker 1: did not question his power. They knew their fate was
Speaker 1: already sealed. They begged him to send them into a
Speaker 1: herd of pigs, and with a single word, Jesus cast
Speaker 1: them out. The men were instantly set free. This miracle
Speaker 1: reveals something critical. Jesus has absolute power over the forces
Speaker 1: of darkness. The devil and his demons are real, but
Speaker 1: they are not equal to God. They must bow before
Speaker 1: his authority. Have you ever felt under attack spiritually? Have
Speaker 1: you ever since darkness trying to overwhelm you. Jesus is
Speaker 1: the ultimate deliverer. No bondage is too strong for him
Speaker 1: to break. No oppression is beyond his power to remove.
Speaker 1: If you are struggling, call upon his name, declare his
Speaker 1: authority over your life. He is still casting out the
Speaker 1: works of the enemy to day. So what do these
Speaker 1: miracles teach us? First, Jesus came to restore lives. He
Speaker 1: is the healer, the one who brings wholeness to the broken.
Speaker 1: Whether it is physical sickness, emotional wounds, or spiritual oppression,
Speaker 1: he has the power to restore. Second, Jesus has dominion
Speaker 1: over all creation. There is no storm he cannot calm.
Speaker 1: No situation is beyond his control. If the winds and
Speaker 1: waves obey him, so should our hearts. Third, Jesus is
Speaker 1: victorious over the powers of darkness. The enemy may try
Speaker 1: to intimidate, but he is already defeated. At the name
Speaker 1: of Jesus, every force of evil must bow. As we
Speaker 1: continue this journey through the Gospel of Matthew, we will
Speaker 1: see even greater demonstrations of Christ's authority. He is not
Speaker 1: just a teacher. He is not just a miracle worker.
Speaker 1: He is God in the flesh, walking among his people,
Speaker 1: bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. So ask yourself,
Speaker 1: where do you need to see his power in your life?
Speaker 1: Are you trusting him as your healer? Are you resting
Speaker 1: in his authority over the storms you face? Are you
Speaker 1: standing firm in his victi over the enemy? Jesus is
Speaker 1: the same today as he was then. His power has
Speaker 1: not diminished, his compassion has not faded, his authority has
Speaker 1: not weakened. All who come to him in faith will
Speaker 1: see that he is more than able to do the impossible.
Speaker 1: The sending of the Twelve the Mission of the Disciples
Speaker 1: Matthew chapter ten, verses one through forty two. After demonstrating
Speaker 1: his power through miracles, healing the sick, calming storms, and
Speaker 1: casting out demons, Jesus did something extraordinary. He took his
Speaker 1: mission and entrusted it to his disciples. The Gospel of
Speaker 1: Matthew chapter ten marks a turning point. The Twelve were
Speaker 1: no longer just followers. They were now messengers of the Kingdom,
Speaker 1: carrying the same authority that Jesus himself displayed. Why did
Speaker 1: Jesus send them out at this point, Why not wait
Speaker 1: until they had more experience. The answer is simple. The
Speaker 1: Kingdom of God advances not through human preparation, but through
Speaker 1: divine empowerment. The mission was urgent, and Jesus wanted his
Speaker 1: disciples to learn that their strength would not come from
Speaker 1: their own ability, but from their dependence on him. The
Speaker 1: mission Jesus gave them was not an ordinary task. It
Speaker 1: was a divine assignment, a commission that required faith, obedience,
Speaker 1: and courage. And within this commission we find three foundational
Speaker 1: principles that apply not only to them, but to every
Speaker 1: believer to day. The first principle is that preaching and
Speaker 1: miracles go together. Jesus did not just send them to
Speaker 1: speak about the Kingdom. He sent them to demonstrate its power.
Speaker 1: He said, as recorded in the Book of Matthew, Chapter ten,
Speaker 1: verses seven through eight, as you go, proclaim this message.
Speaker 1: The Kingdom of Heaven has come near. Heal the sick,
Speaker 1: raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Speaker 1: This is a crucial truth. The message of the Kingdom
Speaker 1: is not just words, it is power. Jesus did not
Speaker 1: come merely to bring philosophy or religious ideas. He came
Speaker 1: to restore what was broken. He came to defeat the
Speaker 1: works of darkness, and he commanded his disciples to do
Speaker 1: the same. Why does this matter today? Because the Gospel
Speaker 1: was never meant to be powerless. It is not just
Speaker 1: a set of beliefs. It is the power of God
Speaker 1: to transform lives. If we preach the message of Jesus,
Speaker 1: we must also demonstrate His power through faith, prayer, and
Speaker 1: the working of the Holy Spirit. Are we walking in
Speaker 1: this reality? Do we proclaim the Gospel with expectation that
Speaker 1: God will move? Or have we reduced our faith to
Speaker 1: mere words forgetting that the Kingdom of Heaven is not
Speaker 1: just something we talk about, but something we demonstrate. The
Speaker 1: second principle is that the mission requires complete dependence on God.
Speaker 1: Jesus told them, as recorded in Matthew Chapter ten, verses
Speaker 1: nine through ten, do not get any gold or silver
Speaker 1: or copper to take with you in your belts. No
Speaker 1: bag for the journey, or extra shirt or sandals, or
Speaker 1: a staff for the worker is worth his keep. This
Speaker 1: was not just about traveling light. It was about learning
Speaker 1: absolute trust. Jesus was teaching them that the work of
Speaker 1: The kingdom is not sustained by human resources, but by
Speaker 1: God's provision. Have you ever hesitated to step out in
Speaker 1: faith because you felt unprepared? Have you ever worried that
Speaker 1: you did not have enough resources, enough knowledge, or enough strength.
Speaker 1: Jesus command to his disciples speaks directly to those fears.
Speaker 1: The mission is not about what we have, It is
Speaker 1: about who we trust. If God calls, he provides. If
Speaker 1: he sends, he sustains, If he appoints, he equips. The
Speaker 1: disciples had to learn this first hand, and so do we.
Speaker 1: The third principle is that following Jesus brings persecution, but
Speaker 1: the reward aud is eternal. Jesus did not promise an
Speaker 1: easy road. In fact, he warned them of what was coming.
Speaker 1: He said, as recorded in Matthew, chapter ten, verse sixteen,
Speaker 1: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. This
Speaker 1: was not a message of comfort. It was a declaration
Speaker 1: of reality. The world would resist them just as it
Speaker 1: resisted him. They would be rejected just as he was rejected.
Speaker 1: Some would be imprisoned, some would be beaten, some would
Speaker 1: be put to death. But despite all this, Jesus told
Speaker 1: them not to fear. Why because their reward was not
Speaker 1: in this world. Their hope was in something greater. He
Speaker 1: assured them in Matthew Chapter ten, verse twenty two. The
Speaker 1: one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Speaker 1: This is one of the hardest truths to accept. The
Speaker 1: call of God is not about personal comfort. It is
Speaker 1: about faithfulness. It is about enduring opposition, holding on to
Speaker 1: the truth, and standing firm even when the world stands
Speaker 1: against us. Have you ever faced rejection because of your faith?
Speaker 1: Have you ever felt pressure to compromise, to stay silent,
Speaker 1: to fit in rather than stand out. Jesus' words remind
Speaker 1: us that persecution is not a sign of failure. It
Speaker 1: is evidence that we belong to him. But here is
Speaker 1: the promise. Even in the face of trials, God is
Speaker 1: with us. He told them, when you are arrested, do
Speaker 1: not worry about what to say or how to say it.
Speaker 1: At that time you will be given what to say,
Speaker 1: for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit
Speaker 1: of your Father speaking through you. This is the power
Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit. The mission is not carried out
Speaker 1: by human effort. It is fueled by divine strength. The
Speaker 1: disciples were not going alone, They were going with the
Speaker 1: authority and presence of God himself. So what do we
Speaker 1: learn from this passage? First, the message of the kingdom
Speaker 1: must be demonstrated with power. If we preach about Ji Jesus,
Speaker 1: we should expect to see his presence change lives. Second,
Speaker 1: we must trust God completely. The mission is not about
Speaker 1: how much we have, but about how much we believe.
Speaker 1: If He calls us, he will provide. Third, persecution is
Speaker 1: part of the journey, but the promise is this, Those
Speaker 1: who endure to the end will receive the ultimate reward.
Speaker 1: Are you willing to trust God even when the path
Speaker 1: is uncertain? Are you ready to step out in faith
Speaker 1: knowing that He will provide? Are you prepared to stand
Speaker 1: firm even when opposition comes. The mission of the disciples
Speaker 1: is not just a historical event. It is our mission
Speaker 1: to day. The call to preach, to heal, to trust,
Speaker 1: and to endure is the same now as it was then.
Speaker 1: Jesus is still sending his followers into the world, still
Speaker 1: equipping them with his power, still calling them to trust
Speaker 1: in his provision, and still promising that in the end
Speaker 1: the reward will far outweigh the cost. The easy yoke
Speaker 1: of Jesus rest for the soul Matthew chapter eleven, verses
Speaker 1: twenty eight through thirty. Life can be exhausting. The weight
Speaker 1: of responsibilities, the struggles of daily existence, the burdens of guilt, worry,
Speaker 1: and fear often press down on us, leaving us drained
Speaker 1: and overwhelmed. In the midst of this, Jesus extends one
Speaker 1: of the most loving and powerful invitations in all of scripture.
Speaker 1: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
Speaker 1: and I will give you rest. These words recorded in
Speaker 1: the Gospel of Matthew chapter eleven, verse twenty eight, are
Speaker 1: not just a kind sentiment. They are a divine promise.
Speaker 1: They are an invitation to exchange the heaviness of this
Speaker 1: world for the supernatural peace that only Christ can provide.
Speaker 1: But what kind of rest is Jesus offering. Is he
Speaker 1: promising a life free of struggles? Is he saying that
Speaker 1: those who follow him will never face hardship? Not at all.
Speaker 1: This rest is not about escaping difficulties. It is about
Speaker 1: receiving a peace that surpasses all understanding. Even in the
Speaker 1: midst of them, Jesus continues, take my yoke upon you
Speaker 1: and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble
Speaker 1: in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Speaker 1: For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Speaker 1: This statement is rich with meaning, but to fully grasp it,
Speaker 1: we must understand the imagery Jesus is using. In ancient times,
Speaker 1: a yoke was a wooden beam that connected two oxen
Speaker 1: together so they could pull a load. Typically, a younger,
Speaker 1: inexperienced ox would be yoked to a stronger, more experienced one.
Speaker 1: The stronger ox would bear most of the weight, guiding
Speaker 1: and training the younger ox while making the work easier.
Speaker 1: Jesus is saying, let me carry the weight, let me
Speaker 1: take the burden. Walk with me, and I will guide you.
Speaker 1: I will strength than you. I will carry what you cannot.
Speaker 1: Are you trying to carry your burdens alone? Are you
Speaker 1: relying on your own strength to navigate life's challenges. Jesus
Speaker 1: is inviting you to stop struggling and let him bear
Speaker 1: the load. This passage reveals three powerful truths about the
Speaker 1: rest that Jesus offers. The first truth is that his
Speaker 1: rest is not the absence of problems, but the presence
Speaker 1: of supernatural peace. Many people believe that peace comes from
Speaker 1: external circumstances, having enough money, good health, or a stable life.
Speaker 1: But Jesus offers something far deeper. His peace is not
Speaker 1: dependent on circumstances. It is a peace that exists even
Speaker 1: in the midst of storms. When Jesus says he will
Speaker 1: give us rest, he is not promising an easy life.
Speaker 1: He is promising a life anchored in him, a life where,
Speaker 1: no matter what comes, trials, losses, uncertainties, we remain unshaken
Speaker 1: because our rest is found in his presence, not in
Speaker 1: our circumstance answers. The second truth is that his yoke
Speaker 1: is light because he carries it with us. Jesus is
Speaker 1: not offering a life without responsibility or commitment. He is
Speaker 1: offering a life where we do not carry the burden alone.
Speaker 1: Have you ever tried to do something difficult by yourself
Speaker 1: and found it overwhelming, but then when someone came alongside
Speaker 1: you to help, it became manageable. This is what Jesus
Speaker 1: is saying. He does not remove every difficulty, but he
Speaker 1: walks with us through them, making the burden bearable. The
Speaker 1: reason many people feel overwhelmed in life is that they
Speaker 1: are carrying things they were never meant to carry alone. Anxiety, fear, shame,
Speaker 1: the pressure to be perfect, the need for control. These
Speaker 1: awaits that Jesus never asked us to bear by ourselves.
Speaker 1: He is saying, come to me, let me take that,
Speaker 1: let me walk with you. The third truth is that
Speaker 1: true freedom comes from full surrender to Christ. The world
Speaker 1: teaches that freedom means doing whatever we want, living by
Speaker 1: our own rules, and being in control of our own lives.
Speaker 1: But Jesus teaches that true freedom is found in surrender.
Speaker 1: When we try to carry life on our own terms,
Speaker 1: we become enslave to worry, exhaustion, and sin. But when
Speaker 1: we surrender to Christ, we are set free, free from
Speaker 1: the need to prove ourselves, free from the burden of guilt,
Speaker 1: free from the constant striving to earn love and approval.
Speaker 1: This is why Jesus says, learn from me, for I
Speaker 1: am gentle and humble in heart. He is not a
Speaker 1: harsh master. He does not drive us with fear. He
Speaker 1: leads us with love. The more we learn from him,
Speaker 1: the more we realize that his way is not burdensome,
Speaker 1: it is life giving. So the question we must ask
Speaker 1: ourselves is this, are we truly walking in the rest
Speaker 1: that Jesus offers, or are we still trying to carry
Speaker 1: our burdens alone. Have you surrendered everything to him? Or
Speaker 1: are you still whole holding on to stress, fear, and control.
Speaker 1: The invitation is clear. Jesus is calling you to come
Speaker 1: to lay down the weight you were never meant to carry,
Speaker 1: and to find rest in him. This is not a
Speaker 1: one time decision, It is a daily surrender. Every day
Speaker 1: we must choose to walk in his peace, to trust
Speaker 1: him with our burdens, and to believe that He is
Speaker 1: faithful to carry what we cannot. The Kingdom of Heaven
Speaker 1: The Parables of Spiritual Truth Matthew, Chapter thirteen, verses one
Speaker 1: through fifty eight. As jesus ministry grew, crowds followed him everywhere.
Speaker 1: People from all walks of life, fishermen, tax collectors, religious leaders,
Speaker 1: and the poor came to hear his words. But instead
Speaker 1: of giving straightforward explanations about the Kingdom of God, Jesus
Speaker 1: spoke in parables, short and powerful stories filled with hidden meaning.
Speaker 1: Why did he teach this way, why not just explain
Speaker 1: the truth directly? The answer is profound. Jesus used parables
Speaker 1: not only to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to
Speaker 1: those with open hearts, but also to conceal them from
Speaker 1: those who were spiritually blind. As he explained to his
Speaker 1: disciples in Matthew chapter thirteen, verse eleven, the knowledge of
Speaker 1: the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven has been given
Speaker 1: to you, but not to them. This means that understanding
Speaker 1: the Kingdom is not just about hearing. It is about
Speaker 1: having a heart that is willing to receive and be transformed.
Speaker 1: The parables were designed to separate those who were truly
Speaker 1: seeking God from those who were merely curious. Through these parables,
Speaker 1: Jesus revealed four powerful truths about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 1: The first truth is found in the Parable of the
Speaker 1: Sour Jesus described a farmer scattering seeds which fell on
Speaker 1: four different types of soil. Some fell along the path,
Speaker 1: where birds quickly ate them. Some fell on rocky ground
Speaker 1: where they sprang up quickly but had no root and withered.
Speaker 1: Some fell among thorns, which choked the plants as they grew.
Speaker 1: But some fell on good soil and produced a great harvest.
Speaker 1: The meaning is clear. The seed represents the Word of God,
Speaker 1: and the different soils represent different conditions of the human heart.
Speaker 1: The hardened path represents those who hear the word, but
Speaker 1: do not understand it, allowing the enemy to snatch it away.
Speaker 1: The rocky soil represents those who receive the word with joy,
Speaker 1: but fall away when trials come because they have no depth.
Speaker 1: The thorny soil represents those who let the worries of
Speaker 1: life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out their faith.
Speaker 1: The good soil represents those who here understand and bear fruit,
Speaker 1: producing a great spiritual harvest. This parable forces us to
Speaker 1: ask what kind of soil is my heart? Am I
Speaker 1: receptive to God's truth? Or am I allowing distractions and
Speaker 1: difficulties to keep me from growing? The second truth is
Speaker 1: revealed in the parable of the wheat and the weeds.
Speaker 1: A farmer planted good wheat in his field, but at
Speaker 1: night an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.
Speaker 1: When the plants grew, the weeds appeared alongside them. The
Speaker 1: servants asked if they should pull out the weeds, but
Speaker 1: the farmer said no, because they might uproot the wheat
Speaker 1: as well. Instead, both would grow together until the harvest,
Speaker 1: when the wheat would be gathered and the weeds would
Speaker 1: be burned. This parable reveals a sobering reality good and
Speaker 1: evil will coexist until the final judgment. The world is
Speaker 1: full of both genuine followers of Christ and those who
Speaker 1: oppose him, even within churches. Not everyone who appears to
Speaker 1: be part of the Kingdom truly belongs to it. But
Speaker 1: why does God allow evil to remain? Why not remove
Speaker 1: it immediately? Because if he did, some who are still
Speaker 1: growing in faith might be lost in the process. There
Speaker 1: is a time of judgment coming, but until then we
Speaker 1: are called to grow in faith, trust God's timing, and
Speaker 1: persevere in righteousness. The third truth is seen in the
Speaker 1: parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. The mustard
Speaker 1: seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows,
Speaker 1: it becomes a great tree. The yeast, though small, spreads
Speaker 1: throughout the entire dough, transforming it from within. What is
Speaker 1: Jesus teaching here? The Kingdom of God starts small, but
Speaker 1: its impact is unstoppable. It began with just a few
Speaker 1: disciples in an obscure part of the world, but to
Speaker 1: day it has spread across the entire globe. Wherever the
Speaker 1: Gospel is preached, lives are changed, families are restored, and
Speaker 1: societies are transformed. This is a reminder that we should
Speaker 1: never despise small beginnings. What God plants may seem insignificant
Speaker 1: and at first, but in his time it will grow
Speaker 1: beyond what we can imagine. Even if our faith seems small,
Speaker 1: even if our efforts seem unnoticed, God is working through
Speaker 1: them to bring about something far greater. The fourth truth
Speaker 1: is found in the parables of the Hidden Treasure and
Speaker 1: the Pearl of Great Price. Jesus described a man who
Speaker 1: found a treasure buried in a field. In his joy,
Speaker 1: he sold everything he had to buy that field. He
Speaker 1: also told of a merchant who found a pearl of
Speaker 1: great value and sold everything he owned to obtain it.
Speaker 1: The message is clear. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth
Speaker 1: more than anything else in this world. Once you truly
Speaker 1: understand its value, nothing else compares. Are we willing to
Speaker 1: give up everything for the sake of the kingdom? Are
Speaker 1: we holding on to things that keep us from fully
Speaker 1: following Jesus? These parables challenge us to examine our priorities.
Speaker 1: What do we value most? Is Christ truely our greatest treasure?
Speaker 1: So what do these parables teach us about the Kingdom
Speaker 1: of God? First, the condition of our hearts determines how
Speaker 1: we receive the word, are we allowing it to take root?
Speaker 1: Or are we letting distractions and trials keep us from growing? Second,
Speaker 1: we must trust God's timing in dealing with evil. He
Speaker 1: is patient, allowing time for repentance, but judgment will come. Third,
Speaker 1: God's kingdom starts small but grows powerfully. What may seem
Speaker 1: insignificant now has the potential to change the world. Fourth,
Speaker 1: nothing is more valuable than knowing Christ. The kingdom is
Speaker 1: worth more than anything we could ever possess. Where do
Speaker 1: you see yourself in these parables? Are you cultivating a
Speaker 1: heart that is ready for God's word? Are you trusting
Speaker 1: in his timing even when evil seems to prevail? Do
Speaker 1: you recognize the power of small beginnings? Are you holding
Speaker 1: on to things that prevent you from fully surrendering to Christ?
Speaker 1: The Kingdom of God is not just a distant hope.
Speaker 1: It is here, growing, spreading, transforming lives. It is unseen
Speaker 1: by the world, yet it is more real than anything else,
Speaker 1: and Jesus is inviting us to be part of it.
Speaker 1: Peter's confession Jesus is the Messiah Matthew Chapter sixteen, verses
Speaker 1: thirteen through twenty. Throughout his ministry. Jesus performed miracles, taught
Speaker 1: with authority, and fulfilled ancient prophecies. But despite all this,
Speaker 1: many still debated who he truly was. Some saw him
Speaker 1: as a prophet, others as a great teacher, and some
Speaker 1: as a revolutionary figure. But Jesus was not interested in
Speaker 1: public opinion alone. He wanted a personal answer. As he
Speaker 1: and his disciples traveled to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
Speaker 1: a place known for its pagan temples and idle worship,
Speaker 1: Jesus turned to his disciples and asked a profound question,
Speaker 1: who do people say the son of Man is? They replied,
Speaker 1: some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still
Speaker 1: others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. The people recognized
Speaker 1: that Jesus was someone extraordinary, but they still placed him
Speaker 1: in the category of a prophet. They saw him as
Speaker 1: a man of God, but failed to recognize that he
Speaker 1: was God himself. Then Jesus made the question personal, But
Speaker 1: what about you? Who do you say that I am?
Speaker 1: This is the most important question any one will ever answer.
Speaker 1: It is not enough to know what others think of Jesus.
Speaker 1: It is not enough to acknowledge him as a great
Speaker 1: moral teacher or a historical figure. Each person must decide
Speaker 1: for themselves who Jesus truly is. Peter, moved by divine revelation, declared,
Speaker 1: you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Speaker 1: This was no ordinary statement. It was the greatest confession
Speaker 1: of faith ever spoken. In this moment, Peter acknowledged that
Speaker 1: Jesus was not just a prophet, not just a rabbi,
Speaker 1: but the promised Messiah, the savior sent by God to
Speaker 1: redeem the world. But what does this declaration truly mean?
Speaker 1: Why is it so important? First, it affirms that Jesus
Speaker 1: is more than just a great spiritual leader. He is
Speaker 1: the anointed One, the Savior foretold in Prophecy. The word
Speaker 1: Christ comes from the Greek Christos, which means anointed one,
Speaker 1: the same meaning as the Hebrew word Messiah. This means
Speaker 1: that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made throughout
Speaker 1: the Old Testament. From the moment Sin entered the world,
Speaker 1: God had promised a redeemer. The prophet spoke of one
Speaker 1: who would come to bring salvation, to establish an everlasting kingdom,
Speaker 1: to restore what was lost, and now standing in front
Speaker 1: of his disciples. Jesus was revealed as the one who
Speaker 1: would fulfill all these promises. Second, this confession became the
Speaker 1: foundation upon which the Church would be built. Jesus responded
Speaker 1: to Peter's declaration with one of the most powerful promises
Speaker 1: in scripture. And I tell you that you are Peter,
Speaker 1: and on this rock I will build my church, and
Speaker 1: the gates of Hell will not overcome it. What was
Speaker 1: this rock that Jesus spoke of. Some believe it referred
Speaker 1: to Peter himself, since his name means rock. But in
Speaker 1: a deeper sense, the true foundation of the church is
Speaker 1: the revelation of who Jesus is. It is the confession
Speaker 1: that he is the Christ, the son of the Living God.
Speaker 1: The Church is not built on human leaders, traditions, or institutions.
Speaker 1: It is built on the unshakable truth of jesus identity.
Speaker 1: This means that no force of darkness can ever destroy
Speaker 1: the Church. Kingdoms rise and fall, persecution comes and goes,
Speaker 1: but the Church remains because it is not founded on
Speaker 1: human strength, but on divine revelation. The third truth we
Speaker 1: learn is that the gates of Hell will not prevail
Speaker 1: against the Church. This is a declaration of victory Hell
Speaker 1: will try to fight against the Church, but it will
Speaker 1: never succeed. Gates are not offensive weapons, they are defensive structures.
Speaker 1: This means that the Church is not meant to be
Speaker 1: passive hiding in fear. It is meant to advance, to
Speaker 1: break through the strongholds of darkness, to bring the light
Speaker 1: of Christ into the world. Have you ever felt like
Speaker 1: the enemy is attacking your faith, your family, your purpose?
Speaker 1: Remember this promise. The power of Hell cannot stop what
Speaker 1: God has built. If you are standing on the truth
Speaker 1: of Christ, you are standing on a foundation that cannot
Speaker 1: be shaken. So what does this passage teach us? First,
Speaker 1: every person must answer the question who is Jesus. It
Speaker 1: is not enough to know what others say about him.
Speaker 1: Your faith must be personal. Second, the Church is not
Speaker 1: built on human effort, but on the unshakable truth that
Speaker 1: Jesus is the Christ. This is the foundation of our
Speaker 1: faith and nothing can overthrow it. Third, we are part
Speaker 1: of a victorious kingdom. The forces of darkness will try
Speaker 1: to resist, but they will never overcome the Church that
Speaker 1: stands firm in Christ. Now, let's ask the most important question,
Speaker 1: who is Jesus to you? Is he just a great teacher,
Speaker 1: a religious figure, or is he truly the Lord and
Speaker 1: Savior of your life. This is not just a theological concept,
Speaker 1: It is the defining question of your life. If you
Speaker 1: believe that Jesus is the Christ, then that truth should
Speaker 1: shape everything, how you live, how you think, how you
Speaker 1: respond to trials, and how you share your faith with others.
Speaker 1: The world is full of opinions about Jesus. Some will
Speaker 1: say he was just a wise man. Others will try
Speaker 1: to redefine him to fit their own view. But in
Speaker 1: the end, only one truth matters. Jesus is the Christ,
Speaker 1: the son of the Living God, and on that truth
Speaker 1: everything else stands. The transfiguration a glimpse of glory Matthew,
Speaker 1: Chapter seventeen, verses one through nine. Throughout his ministry, Jesus
Speaker 1: had revealed his authority through miracles, teachings, and his power
Speaker 1: over nature, disease, and demons. Yet there was still a
Speaker 1: mystery surrounding his full identity. Many believed he was the Messiah,
Speaker 1: but few truly grasped the depth of his divine nature. Then,
Speaker 1: on a high mountain, away from the crowds, Jesus gave
Speaker 1: three of his disciples a glimpse of his true glory,
Speaker 1: a moment that would forever change their understanding of who
Speaker 1: he was. The event, known as the transfiguration, is one
Speaker 1: of the most astonishing moments in the Gospel. Jesus took Peter, James,
Speaker 1: and John up the mountain, and suddenly, before their eyes,
Speaker 1: his appearance was transformed. His face shone like the sun,
Speaker 1: and his clothes became as white as light. This was
Speaker 1: not just a bright light or a vision. It was
Speaker 1: a revelation of his divine nature. Why did Jesus reveal
Speaker 1: his glory in this way, why only to these three disciples.
Speaker 1: The answer is profound. This moment was a confirmation of
Speaker 1: his identity. Before he went to the cross, the disciples
Speaker 1: had followed him, but soon they would face the greatest
Speaker 1: challenge to their faith, his suffering and death. Before they
Speaker 1: walked through the Valley of Despair, Jesus allowed them to
Speaker 1: see the mountain of his majesty, proving that he was
Speaker 1: more than a teacher, more than a prophet. He was
Speaker 1: the eternal, glorified son of God. But the vision did
Speaker 1: not stop there. Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus.
Speaker 1: This was no accident. Moses represented the law and Elijah
Speaker 1: represented the prophet. Together, they symbolized the entire Old Testament,
Speaker 1: confirming that everything written in the scriptures pointed to Jesus.
Speaker 1: He was the fulfillment of the law. He was the
Speaker 1: fulfillment of prophecy. Can you imagine the owe that Peter, James,
Speaker 1: and John must have felt at that moment. They were
Speaker 1: seeing something beyond human comprehension, a vision of eternity breaking
Speaker 1: into time. Peter, overwhelmed, spoke up and said, Lord, it
Speaker 1: is good for us to be here. If you wish,
Speaker 1: I will put up three shelters, one for you, one
Speaker 1: for Moses, and one for Elijah. Peter's reaction was sincere
Speaker 1: but misguided. He wanted to preserve the moment to build
Speaker 1: something permanent. But the transfiguration was not about staying on
Speaker 1: the mountain. It was about preparing them for what was
Speaker 1: to come. Then, as Peter was still speaking, a bright
Speaker 1: cloud enveloped them, and the voice of God thundered from heaven.
Speaker 1: This is my son, whom I love. With him, I
Speaker 1: am well pleased listen to him. This was the second
Speaker 1: time in the Gospels that God the Father audibly affirmed
Speaker 1: Jesus as his son, the first being at his baptism.
Speaker 1: But here God added a command listened to him. Why
Speaker 1: is this significant because it establishes the supremacy of Jesus
Speaker 1: over all things. Moses and Elijah were great figures in
Speaker 1: Biblical history, but they were servants. Jesus is the son.
Speaker 1: The Law and the prophets were important, but Jesus is
Speaker 1: the fulfillment of both. The Father's command was clear, pay
Speaker 1: attention to Jesus above all else. At this the disciples
Speaker 1: fell face down, terrified. The glory of God was overwhelming.
Speaker 1: They had walked with Jesus, but now they saw his
Speaker 1: divine majesty unveiled, and they could not stand in his presence.
Speaker 1: But then something beautiful happened. Jesus came and touched them, saying,
Speaker 1: get up, do not be afraid. And when they looked up,
Speaker 1: they saw no one except Jesus. This moment teaches us
Speaker 1: something profound. First, Jesus reveals his glory to strengthen our faith.
Speaker 1: The disciples would soon face confusion and fear as they
Speaker 1: watch Jesus suffer, but after seeing his divine majesty, they
Speaker 1: would know that he was in complete control, even in
Speaker 1: his darkest hour. How often do we forget the glory
Speaker 1: of Christ. When we are in the valley of trials.
Speaker 1: The transfiguration reminds us that even when we do not
Speaker 1: see it, his glory remains. When we are struggling, we
Speaker 1: must remember who he is, the glorified, victorious King. Second,
Speaker 1: Jesus is greater than the law and the prophets. Many
Speaker 1: people respect religious figures, wise teachers, or sacred traditions, but
Speaker 1: the voice from heaven was clear. Jesus is above all.
Speaker 1: Our faith is not built on rules or history alone.
Speaker 1: It is built on a living, glorious savior. Listen to
Speaker 1: Jesus above all other voices. Are we allowing his words
Speaker 1: to shape our lives more than the opinions of the world. Third,
Speaker 1: we are called to come up the mountain and experience
Speaker 1: his presence. Jesus did not reveal his glory to the crowds,
Speaker 1: only to those who were willing to go deeper with him.
Speaker 1: He calls us to a higher place, a place of prayer, intimacy,
Speaker 1: and revelation. Have you settled for knowing Jesus only from
Speaker 1: a distance, or are you willing to go up the
Speaker 1: mountain to seek his face, to experience his presence in
Speaker 1: a deeper way. The transfiguration was a moment of revelation,
Speaker 1: but it was also a call to action. Jesus told
Speaker 1: the disciples not to speak of what they had seen
Speaker 1: until after his resurrection. Why because only after the cross
Speaker 1: and the empty tomb would they fully understand the significance
Speaker 1: of what had happened. The glory they witnessed on the
Speaker 1: mountain was a glimpse of the eternal glory that Jesus
Speaker 1: would return to after his resurrection, a glory that he
Speaker 1: will one day share with all who follow him. So
Speaker 1: what does this mean for us today? First, we must
Speaker 1: remember that Jesus is not just a historical figure. He
Speaker 1: is the glorified, living son of God. Second, we must
Speaker 1: listen to him above all else. His voice should guide
Speaker 1: our lives, our decisions, and our faith. Third, we must
Speaker 1: be willing to go up the mountain to seek his presence,
Speaker 1: to grow in intimacy with him, to allow him to
Speaker 1: reveal his glory in our lives. Have you experienced the
Speaker 1: presence of Jesus in a real way? Have you let
Speaker 1: his voice be the loudest in your life? Are you
Speaker 1: living with the confidence that the same Jesus who shined
Speaker 1: on the mountain is the one who walks with you
Speaker 1: every day. The transfiguration was not just a moment for Peter, James,
Speaker 1: and John. It was a revelation for all who believe
Speaker 1: Jesus is the glorified Son of God, and one day
Speaker 1: we too will see him in his full glory. The
Speaker 1: teaching on forgiveness the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matthew
Speaker 1: Chapter eighteen, Verses twenty one through thirty five. Forgiveness is
Speaker 1: one of the most powerful yet challenging commands in the
Speaker 1: Christian life. We love to receive it, but often struggle
Speaker 1: to give it. In Matthew Chapter eighteen, Jesus addresses this
Speaker 1: issue in a way that leaves no room for doubt.
Speaker 1: Forgiveness is not optional in the Kingdom of God. It
Speaker 1: all started with a question from Peter, Lord, how many
Speaker 1: times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins
Speaker 1: against me? Up to seven times? Peter thought he was
Speaker 1: being generous. The religious leaders of the time taught that
Speaker 1: forgiving someone three times was sufficient, so by suggesting seven times,
Speaker 1: Peter likely expected Jesus to commend his willingness to go
Speaker 1: beyond tradition. But Jesus answer shattered human expectations. I tell
Speaker 1: you not seven times, but seventy times seven. Why did
Speaker 1: Jesus choose this number. Was he saying that we should
Speaker 1: literally forgive four hundred and ninety times and then stop?
Speaker 1: Of course not. The phrase seventy times seven was a
Speaker 1: way of saying forgiveness should have no limit. Jesus was
Speaker 1: teaching that in the Kingdom of Heaven, forgiveness is not
Speaker 1: about keeping count, It is about reflecting God's mercy. To
Speaker 1: drive this point home, Jesus told a parable, the Parable
Speaker 1: of the Unforgiving Servant, a story so powerful that it
Speaker 1: exposes the human heart and forces us to confront our
Speaker 1: own struggle with forgiveness. A king wanted to settle accounts
Speaker 1: with his servants. One man was brought before him who
Speaker 1: owed an unimaginable debt ten thousand talents. In today's terms,
Speaker 1: this would be billions of dollars, an amount he could
Speaker 1: never repay in a lifetime. The king ordered that the man,
Speaker 1: his family, and all his possessions be sold to repay
Speaker 1: the debt. In desperation, the servant fell on his knees
Speaker 1: and begged, be patient with me, and I will pay
Speaker 1: back everything. But the reality was he could never pay
Speaker 1: it back. The debt was too great. Yet the king
Speaker 1: had compassion canceled the debt entirely and set him free.
Speaker 1: Can you imagine the relief. One moment the man was
Speaker 1: facing total ruin, and the next he was completely forgiven.
Speaker 1: His life had been restored by the sheer mercy of
Speaker 1: the king. But then something shocking happened. That same servant
Speaker 1: went out and found a fellow servant who owed him
Speaker 1: a hundred dinarii, the equivalent of a few months wages.
Speaker 1: Compared to the ten thousand talents he had just been forgiven,
Speaker 1: this was almost nothing. Yet, instead of showing the same
Speaker 1: mercy he had received, he grabbed the man by the
Speaker 1: throat and demanded payment. The second servant begged in the
Speaker 1: same be patient with me and I will pay it back,
Speaker 1: But the first servant refused and had him thrown into
Speaker 1: prison until he could repay the debt. When the king
Speaker 1: heard what had happened, he was furious. He called the
Speaker 1: servant back and said, you wicked servant, I canceled all
Speaker 1: that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't
Speaker 1: you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as
Speaker 1: I had on you. Then, in anger, the king handed
Speaker 1: him over to be tortured until he paid back everything
Speaker 1: he owed. Jesus concluded the parable with a sobering warning,
Speaker 1: This is how my heavenly father will treat each of
Speaker 1: you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.
Speaker 1: This parable teaches three powerful truths about forgiveness. First, if
Speaker 1: God has forgiven us, we must forgive others. The debt
Speaker 1: the first servant owed represents our sin against God, a
Speaker 1: debt so enormous that we could never repay it. But
Speaker 1: through Jesus, God canceled our debt completely. If we have
Speaker 1: received such mercy, how can we refuse to extend it
Speaker 1: to others. Second, refusing to forgive makes us prisoners of bitterness.
Speaker 1: The unforgiving servant thought he was demanding justice, but in
Speaker 1: the end he became the one in bondage. Unforgiveness does
Speaker 1: not just hurt others. It destroys us. It hardens our hearts,
Speaker 1: poisons our relationships, and keeps us trapped in resentment. Are
Speaker 1: you holding on to anger? Is there someone you have
Speaker 1: refused to forgive. If so, you are not just punishing them,
Speaker 1: You are imprisoning yourself. Third, forgiveness releases the flow of
Speaker 1: God's grace in our lives. Jesus' final warning in this
Speaker 1: parable is clear. If we do not forgive, we block
Speaker 1: the mercy of God in our own lives. This is
Speaker 1: not because God is unwilling to forgive us, but because
Speaker 1: a heart that refuses to forgive is a heart that
Speaker 1: has not truly understood grace. Forgiveness does not mean ignoring
Speaker 1: the pain others have caused us. It does not mean
Speaker 1: pretending that what happened was okay. But it does mean
Speaker 1: choosing to release the debt, just as God released ours.
Speaker 1: So here is the question we must all ask ourselves.
Speaker 1: Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive.
Speaker 1: Maybe it is a family member who hurt you. Maybe
Speaker 1: it is a friend who betrayed your trust. Maybe it
Speaker 1: is someone who never even apologized. Forgiveness is not about
Speaker 1: what they deserve. It is about what you have received.
Speaker 1: It is about living in the freedom of God's mercy
Speaker 1: rather than the chains of bitterness. Jesus teaching is clear.
Speaker 1: Forgiven people forgive. If we have truly experienced the grace
Speaker 1: of God, then extending grace to others is not just
Speaker 1: an option. It is a command. The eschatological discourse the
Speaker 1: End Times revealed Matthew Chapters twenty four through twenty five.
Speaker 1: As Jesus neared the fire days of his earthly ministry,
Speaker 1: his disciples came to him with a burning question, what
Speaker 1: will be the sign of your coming and of the
Speaker 1: end of the age. This question reveals a deep desire
Speaker 1: that has existed in the hearts of believers for centuries.
Speaker 1: When will the end come? How will we know? What
Speaker 1: should we expect? Jesus responded not with a date or
Speaker 1: a specific time line, but with a prophetic sermon filled
Speaker 1: with warnings, signs, and instructions on how to live in
Speaker 1: the last days. This teaching, known as the Olivet Discourse,
Speaker 1: is one of the most detailed prophecies in scripture concerning
Speaker 1: the end times. Before revealing the specific signs of the end,
Speaker 1: Jesus gave a critical warning, watch out that no one
Speaker 1: deceives you. This is the first and most important lesson.
Speaker 1: The greatest danger in the last days is not war, persecution,
Speaker 1: or disaster. It is deception. And then Jesus outlined three
Speaker 1: major signs that will mark the final days before his return.
Speaker 1: The first sign is the rise of false Christs and
Speaker 1: false prophets. For many will come in my name claiming
Speaker 1: I am the Messiah and will deceive many. He continued,
Speaker 1: Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. This
Speaker 1: warning is more relevant today than ever. Throughout history, countless
Speaker 1: individuals have claimed to be the Messiah, leading people into deception,
Speaker 1: but Jesus made it clear many would be misled in
Speaker 1: the last days. False prophets are not just religious leaders.
Speaker 1: They can be cultural voices, ideologies, or movements that distort
Speaker 1: the truth of the Gospel. They preach messages that appeal
Speaker 1: to human desires, offering prosperity without repentance, salvation without surrender,
Speaker 1: and spirituality without truth. How can we avoid being deceived
Speaker 1: by no the real Jesus. The more we immerse ourselves
Speaker 1: in His word and His presence, the more we will
Speaker 1: recognize what is false. Deception thrives where there is ignorance,
Speaker 1: but truth prevails where there is discernment. The second sign
Speaker 1: is an increase in global turmoil, wars, natural disasters, and persecution.
Speaker 1: You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation
Speaker 1: will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will
Speaker 1: be famines and earthquakes in various places. These events have
Speaker 1: occurred throughout history, but in the last days they will
Speaker 1: intensify like birth pains. Just as contractions grow stronger and
Speaker 1: closer together before a child is born, these events will
Speaker 1: increase in frequency and severity before Jesus returns. We are
Speaker 1: witnessing this reality today. Global conflicts, natural disasters, economic crises,
Speaker 1: and rising persecution against christstions are all escalating at an
Speaker 1: alarming rate. But Jesus told us not to be alarmed.
Speaker 1: These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Speaker 1: Are you watching the world around you with fear? Or
Speaker 1: are you standing firm in faith knowing that God's plan
Speaker 1: is unfolding. The third sign is the spiritual decline of many.
Speaker 1: The love of most will grow cold because of the
Speaker 1: increase of wickedness. The love of most will grow cold.
Speaker 1: This is one of the most heart breaking warnings in scripture.
Speaker 1: The last days will not only be marked by external events,
Speaker 1: but by an internal spiritual crisis. Many who once had
Speaker 1: passion for God will become indifferent. Many who once stood
Speaker 1: firm will compromise. Why does this happen Because when sin increases,
Speaker 1: it numbs the heart. When people tolerate sin, they eventually
Speaker 1: justify it, and when they justify it, they stop resisting it.
Speaker 1: Are we seeing this today? Absolutely? Many churches no longer
Speaker 1: preach repentance. Many believers no longer live with urgency. Many
Speaker 1: hearts have been hardened by offense, distractions, and the cares
Speaker 1: of this world. But there is a promise. The one
Speaker 1: who stands firm to the end will be saved. Faithfulness matters,
Speaker 1: perseverance matters. It is not about how we start, it
Speaker 1: is about how we finish. How should we live in
Speaker 1: these last days? In light of these signs, Jesus gave
Speaker 1: two urgent commands for his followers. First, we must live
Speaker 1: in constant vigilance. Therefore, keep watch, because you do not
Speaker 1: know on what day your Lord will come. Many people
Speaker 1: live as if life will continue forever. They plan for
Speaker 1: the future, chase after success, and put off their relationship
Speaker 1: with God. But Jesus could return at any moment. Are
Speaker 1: you living with this awareness? If Jesus returned to day,
Speaker 1: would he find you faithful? Would he mind you ready? Second,
Speaker 1: we must remain faithful until the end. Jesus made it
Speaker 1: clear only those who persevere will be saved. He did
Speaker 1: not say that the Christian life would be easy. He
Speaker 1: did not promise a world free of suffering. But he
Speaker 1: promised that if we hold fast to him, we will
Speaker 1: receive the ultimate reward, eternal life in his kingdom. This
Speaker 1: is why he told the parable of the Ten virgins.
Speaker 1: In this story, ten bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom.
Speaker 1: Five were wise and kept their lamps filled with oil.
Speaker 1: Five were foolish and let their oil run out. When
Speaker 1: the bridegroom arrived, the wise were ready and entered into
Speaker 1: the wedding feast, but the foolish were left outside. This
Speaker 1: parable is a warning. Are we keeping our lamps burning?
Speaker 1: Are we living in spiritual readiness? Or are we distracted,
Speaker 1: unprepared and asleep? Are you ready? The end times are
Speaker 1: not something to fear, They are something to prepare for more.
Speaker 1: Jesus did not reveal these things to frighten us, but
Speaker 1: to equip us. He wants his people to stand firm,
Speaker 1: stay faithful, and keep their eyes on eternity. So ask yourself,
Speaker 1: am I growing in my knowledge of the truth? Or
Speaker 1: am I vulnerable to deception? Am I trusting God even
Speaker 1: as the world shakes around me? Or am I living
Speaker 1: in fear? Is my love for God growing stronger? Or
Speaker 1: has it grown cold? Am I living with a sense
Speaker 1: of urgency? Ready for Jesus return? The signs are all
Speaker 1: around us. The question is how will you respond? The
Speaker 1: Last Supper the Blood of the New Covenant Matthew, Chapter
Speaker 1: twenty six, Verses seventeen through thirty. On the night before
Speaker 1: his crucifixion, Jesus gathered with his disciples to share a
Speaker 1: final meal. But this was no ordinary meal. It was
Speaker 1: the fulfillment of prophecy, the institution of a new covenant,
Speaker 1: and the moment when Jesus revealed the true meaning of
Speaker 1: his coming sacrifice. The Last Supper was held during the
Speaker 1: feast of Passover, a time when the Jewish people remembered
Speaker 1: how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They
Speaker 1: would sacrifice a spotless lamb, eat unleavened bread, and recall
Speaker 1: how the blood of the lamb had spared them from death.
Speaker 1: But on this night, Jesus was about to show them
Speaker 1: that the Passover had always been pointing to something greater himself.
Speaker 1: He was the true passover Lamb, the one whose blood
Speaker 1: would not just cover sin, but take it away forever.
Speaker 1: As they sat at the table, Jesus took bread, blessed it,
Speaker 1: broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, take
Speaker 1: and eat. This is my body. Then he took the cup,
Speaker 1: gave thanks, and said, drink from it, all of you.
Speaker 1: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
Speaker 1: out for many for the forgiveness of sins. These words
Speaker 1: were not just symbolic, They were a declaration of the
Speaker 1: new covenant. Jesus was establishing something that would change history forever.
Speaker 1: What does the Lord's supper symbolize? First, the bread represents
Speaker 1: his body broken for us. When Jesus broke the bread
Speaker 1: and gave it to his disciples, he was showing them
Speaker 1: what was about to happen to him. His body would
Speaker 1: be broken, beaten, bruised, and nailed to a cross. He
Speaker 1: would suffer not because he deserved it, but because he
Speaker 1: was taking our place. The prophet Isaiah had foretold this
Speaker 1: moment centuries earlier, saying he was pierced for our transgressions,
Speaker 1: he was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought
Speaker 1: us peace was on him, and by his wounds we
Speaker 1: are healed. Every time we take the bread, we remember
Speaker 1: the suffering that purchased our salvation. It is a reminder
Speaker 1: that our forgiveness was not free. It was bought with
Speaker 1: the body of Christ broken, so that we might be
Speaker 1: made whole. Second, the wine represents his blood poured out
Speaker 1: for the forgiveness of sins. Under the old covenant, the
Speaker 1: blood of animals had to be sacrificed continually as a
Speaker 1: temporary covering for sin. But Jesus came to establish a
Speaker 1: better covenant, one where his own blood would be the final,
Speaker 1: perfect sacrifice. This was the fulfillment of God's promise. Through
Speaker 1: his blood, we are no longer under the penalty of sin.
Speaker 1: We are washed, redeemed, and restored to relationship with the Father.
Speaker 1: Have you ever felt unworthy of God's love? Have you
Speaker 1: struggled with guilt from your past? The blood of Jesus
Speaker 1: is the answer. It is not about what we have done,
Speaker 1: It is about what He has done. His blood does
Speaker 1: not just cover sin, it removes it completely. Third, the
Speaker 1: Lord's Supper is an eternal reminder of our redemption. Jesus
Speaker 1: told his disciples do this in remembrance of me. The
Speaker 1: Lord's Supper is not just a religious tradition. It is
Speaker 1: a call to remember, to fix our eyes on the cross,
Speaker 1: to never forget the price that was paid for our salvation,
Speaker 1: and to continually live in gratitude for what Christ has done.
Speaker 1: But it is more than just looking back. It is
Speaker 1: also a declaration of hope. Jesus said, I will not
Speaker 1: drink from this fruit of the vine from now on
Speaker 1: until that day when I drink it new with you
Speaker 1: in my father's kingdom. This means that the story is
Speaker 1: not over. One day Jesus will return and we will
Speaker 1: sit at the banquet table in the Kingdom of God.
Speaker 1: The Lord's Supper is not just a memorial of his death,
Speaker 1: It is a promise of his return. First, the Lord's
Speaker 1: Supper is an invitation to communion with Christ. Jesus did
Speaker 1: not just call his disciples to a religious practice. He
Speaker 1: called them into deep relationship with him. When we take
Speaker 1: the Lord's Supper, we are reminded that we are not
Speaker 1: just followers of a belief system. We are part of
Speaker 1: the body of Christ. Are we truly living in communion
Speaker 1: with Him? Or have we reduced our faith to a routine. Second,
Speaker 1: it is a call to self examination. Paul warned that
Speaker 1: we should not take the Lord's Supper lightly, but examine
Speaker 1: our hearts. It is a moment to ask ourselves, am
Speaker 1: I truly living for Christ? Am I holding on to sin,
Speaker 1: bitterness or unforgiveness. The blood of Jesus washes us clean,
Speaker 1: but we must come before him with a heart that
Speaker 1: is humble and surrendered. Third, it is a declaration of
Speaker 1: our identity. When we take the bread and the cup,
Speaker 1: we are proclaiming we belong to Jesus. We are part
Speaker 1: of his kingdom. We have been purchased by his blood.
Speaker 1: This is why the enemy hates the Lord's Supper. It
Speaker 1: is a constant reminder that his power is broken, that
Speaker 1: sin has been defeated, and that Jesus reigns forever. Are
Speaker 1: you living in the reality of what the Lord's Supper represents?
Speaker 1: Is the Cross just a story to you or is
Speaker 1: it the foundation of your life? Do you truly live
Speaker 1: in communion with Christ? Or has your faith become distant
Speaker 1: and routine. Jesus gave us this sacred act not as
Speaker 1: an obligation, but as an invitation, an invitation to remember
Speaker 1: to partake and to live in the power of His
Speaker 1: finished work. Every time we break the bread and drink
Speaker 1: from the cup. We are reminded he died for us,
Speaker 1: he rose for us, and he is coming back for us.
Speaker 1: The crucifixion and resurrection the final victory. Matthew, Chapters twenty
Speaker 1: seven through twenty eight. No event in human history carries
Speaker 1: more significance than the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1: Everything that came before, every prophecy, every covenant, every sacrifice
Speaker 1: was leading to this moment, and everything that followed, every transformation,
Speaker 1: every act of redemption, every hope for eternity flows from it.
Speaker 1: On the cross, Jesus bore the weight of the world
Speaker 1: world sin. In the grave, he fulfilled the judgment against sin,
Speaker 1: and in his resurrection he conquered death once and for all.
Speaker 1: This is the ultimate victory, the moment when God's plan
Speaker 1: of redemption was fully revealed. After enduring betrayal, false accusations,
Speaker 1: and brutal torture, Jesus was led to Golgotha, the place
Speaker 1: of the Skull, where he was nailed to a Roman cross.
Speaker 1: The Messiah, the one who had healed the sick, raised
Speaker 1: the dead, and spoken of love, was now suffering the
Speaker 1: most excruciating execution known to man. But his suffering was
Speaker 1: not just physical. On that cross, Jesus carried the full
Speaker 1: weight of human sin, absorbing the wrath of God in
Speaker 1: our place. This was the moment foretold by the prophet Isaiah,
Speaker 1: who said he was pierced for our transgressions. He was
Speaker 1: crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace
Speaker 1: was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Speaker 1: As he hung there, darkness covered the land. This was
Speaker 1: not just a natural phenomenon. It was a divine sign.
Speaker 1: The light of the world was being momentarily extinguished. Then
Speaker 1: with his final breath, Jesus cried out, it is finished.
Speaker 1: Not I am finished, but it is finished. The work
Speaker 1: of salvation was complete. The price had been paid, Sin
Speaker 1: had been defeated, the barrier between God and man had
Speaker 1: been torn down forever. At the very moment Jesus died,
Speaker 1: something incredible happened. The veil in the temple was torn
Speaker 1: in two from top to bottom. This veil was no
Speaker 1: ordinary curtain. It was thick, heavy, and meant to separate
Speaker 1: the people from the Holy of holies, the very presence
Speaker 1: of God. Only the high priest could enter, and only
Speaker 1: once a year after offering sacrifices. But when Jesus died,
Speaker 1: the need for human mediators ended. The way to God
Speaker 1: was opened. No more sacrifices were needed, no more barriers remained.
Speaker 1: Through Jesus, we now have direct access to the Father.
Speaker 1: Do you realize what this means? You don't need to
Speaker 1: go through religious rituals to reach God. Jesus has made
Speaker 1: the way open. The door is no longer closed. For
Speaker 1: three days, the world sat in silence. The disciples were scattered,
Speaker 1: afraid and in despair. The one they had followed, the
Speaker 1: one they believed was the Messiah, was dead. But then
Speaker 1: on the third day, everything changed. At dawn, some of
Speaker 1: the women who had followed Jesus went to the tomb.
Speaker 1: But when they arrived, they found the stone rolled away
Speaker 1: and an angel sitting beside it, saying, why do you
Speaker 1: look for the living among the dead. He is not here.
Speaker 1: He has risen. At that moment, history was rewritten. The
Speaker 1: curse of death was broken. The grave had lost its power.
Speaker 1: Jesus was alive. This was not just a spiritual resurrection.
Speaker 1: His body was raised. He walked, he talked, he ate,
Speaker 1: He appeared to hundreds. He had defeated the greatest enemy,
Speaker 1: death itself. What does this mean for us to day? First,
Speaker 1: the cross means that sin no longer has power over us.
Speaker 1: Every sin, past, present, and future was nailed to the cross.
Speaker 1: If you have surrendered your life to Christ, you are
Speaker 1: no longer bound by guilt, shame, or condemnation. Have you
Speaker 1: truly accepted this freedom or are you still living as
Speaker 1: if you have to earn God's forgiveness It is finished?
Speaker 1: Live in the grace he has given you. Second, the
Speaker 1: torn veil means that we have direct access to God.
Speaker 1: You don't need a priest, a ritual, or a religious
Speaker 1: system to reach Him. Through Jesus, you have a personal,
Speaker 1: intimate relationship with the Father. Are you walking in that relationship?
Speaker 1: Are you spending time in his presence knowing that nothing
Speaker 1: separates you from him? Third, the empty tomb means that
Speaker 1: death is not the end. Because Jesus rose, we will
Speaker 1: rise too. Because he lives, we have the hope of
Speaker 1: eternal life. The resurrection is not just a historical event,
Speaker 1: It is a promise for your future. Are you living
Speaker 1: with that hope or are you still afraid of death
Speaker 1: unsure of what comes next. Jesus has already won the victory.
Speaker 1: If you belong to him, eternity is secured. What will
Speaker 1: you do with this truth? This is not just a story.
Speaker 1: It is the foundation of everything. If Jesus truly died
Speaker 1: and rose again, then nothing else in life matters more
Speaker 1: than knowing him. The Great Commission Jesus Final Call Matthew,
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty eight, Verses eighteen through twenty. After his resurrection,
Speaker 1: Jesus did not simply leave his disciples to wonder what
Speaker 1: would come next. He gave them a mission, a command,
Speaker 1: and a purpose that would shape the future of the world.
Speaker 1: Standing before them victorious over sin and death, he declared,
Speaker 1: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given
Speaker 1: to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,
Speaker 1: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
Speaker 1: the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
Speaker 1: to obey everything I have commanded you, And surely I
Speaker 1: am with you always to the very end of the age.
Speaker 1: These final words of Jesus, known as the Great Commission,
Speaker 1: are not just a suggestion. They are a divine command.
Speaker 1: They are the heartbeat of the kingdom. This is the
Speaker 1: mission that defines every believer to go to baptize to
Speaker 1: teach and to make disciples. Why is this commission so important? First,
Speaker 1: we preach because we have been sent. The command to
Speaker 1: go is not just for pastors or missionaries. It is
Speaker 1: for every disciple of Jesus. The Gospel was never meant
Speaker 1: to be kept inside church walls. It is a message
Speaker 1: that must reach the ends of the earth. Have you
Speaker 1: ever thought about this? If some one had not obeyed
Speaker 1: this commission, you might have never heard the gospel. Now
Speaker 1: it is our turn to carry it forward. Where has
Speaker 1: God placed you, your family, your workplace, your city. This
Speaker 1: is your mission field. You do not have to travel
Speaker 1: to another country to fulfill the great commission. You are
Speaker 1: already sent wherever you are. Second, we baptize because we
Speaker 1: belong to the kingdom. Baptism is more than a religious ceremony.
Speaker 1: It is an outward declaration of an inward transformation. It
Speaker 1: is a sign that a person has left their old
Speaker 1: life behind and entered into a new life in Christ.
Speaker 1: When we lead others to Jesus, we do not just
Speaker 1: invite them to believe. We invite them to belong, to
Speaker 1: be part of something greater than themselves, to join the
Speaker 1: family of God. Have you taken this step. Have you
Speaker 1: fully embraced your identity in Christ and helped others do
Speaker 1: the same. Third, we each because we know the truth.
Speaker 1: Jesus did not just say to make converts. He said
Speaker 1: to make disciples, followers who learn, grow and obey his teachings.
Speaker 1: This means that sharing the Gospel is not just about
Speaker 1: bringing people to faith. It is about walking with them,
Speaker 1: guiding them, and helping them mature in Christ. Are we
Speaker 1: truly making disciples? Are we investing in others, mentoring them
Speaker 1: and helping them grow in faith? Or are we simply
Speaker 1: watching from the sidelines. First, the Great commission is not optional.
Speaker 1: It is the purpose of every believer. Jesus did not say,
Speaker 1: if you feel like it, go, He said go. If
Speaker 1: you are a follower of Christ, this is your mission.
Speaker 1: Are you actively sharing the gospel or are you keeping
Speaker 1: the truth to yourself? Second, we are empowered to fulfill
Speaker 1: this mission. Jesus did not just give a command. He
Speaker 1: gave a promise. He said, surely I am with you
Speaker 1: all always to the very end of the age. This
Speaker 1: means that when we step out in faith, we are
Speaker 1: never alone. The same Jesus who conquered death is the
Speaker 1: one who goes with us. The power of the Holy
Speaker 1: Spirit equips us. Fear has no place in those who
Speaker 1: know that Jesus is with them. Third, the mission continues
Speaker 1: until he returns. This commission was not just for the
Speaker 1: first Disciples. It is for every generation of believers until
Speaker 1: the end of time. The story is still being written
Speaker 1: and we are part of it. Are you living the
Speaker 1: great commission? Are you actively sharing your faith or have
Speaker 1: you remained silent? Are you making disciples or are you
Speaker 1: just attending church? Are you relying on Jesus presence or
Speaker 1: are you letting fear hold you back. This is not
Speaker 1: just a call to action, It is the very reason
Speaker 1: we are here. Jesus has done his part. Now it
Speaker 1: is our turn. As we conclude the Gospel of Matthew,
Speaker 1: we are left with a challenge and a promise. Go
Speaker 1: make disciples and know that He is with us always.
Speaker 1: The mission is not over, It has only just begun.
Speaker 1: Now that you have walked through these seventeen life changing
Speaker 1: lessons from the Gospel of Matthew, you have been confronted
Speaker 1: with deep truths about Jesus, his kingdom, and his call
Speaker 1: for your life. But knowledge alone is not enough. The
Speaker 1: question is What will you do with it? Which of
Speaker 1: these lessons spoke to your heart the most? What is
Speaker 1: God calling you to change, to surrender, or to step
Speaker 1: into the Word of God? Is not just information, It
Speaker 1: is transformation, and to day you have been impacted by
Speaker 1: its power. Do not keep this to yourself. If this
Speaker 1: message blessed, you share it with someone who needs to
Speaker 1: hear it. Your simple act of sharing could change a life.
Speaker 1: Comment below which lesson impacted you the most. Let's grow
Speaker 1: together in faith and walk in the truth we have received.
Speaker 1: May these truths shape your journey, strengthen your faith, and
Speaker 1: ignite a passion to live fully for Jesus. The story
Speaker 1: is not over. Your journey with Him is just beginning.