1) The Promise of the Father!Ez. 36:27 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”a) OT Examples of the Spirit “on” People-Moses, Gideon, Samson, Saul, David, Amasai, Zechariahb) Specific People, Specific Task, Specific Time-Foreshadow... Numbers 11, “I wish the Spirit was on all people”c) Promises of a New Covenant-Isaiah 44:3, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36: 24-27, Joel 2:28-292) The Person of Jesus, Anointed One!Acts 10:38 “...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” a) Jesus, Anointed with the Holy Spirit -Take away our sins + Baptize us in the Holy Spirit (Jn 1 & Lk 3)b) Redemption includes Being Filled with the Spirit-Galatians 3:13-14c) Jesus says... “ I must go so He can come!”-See John 13-17 3) The Power of the Holy Spirit!Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." a) The Mission God has for us...-Live Like Jesus, Speak Like Jesus, Do Like Jesus b) We Need Help!-Power = Dynamic Enablingc) The Holy Spirit in Acts-Ch. 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 19 (Hear, Believe, Receive)4) Baptism in the Spirit... Purpose?Romans 8:145b-16a “...but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...”a) Sonship (Adoption)-Assurance of Salvation, Identity, Purpose, Peaceb) Anointed to Live Like Jesus-Empowered for Obedience, Truth, Love, Spiritual Giftsc) Power from on High-Ambassadors (sent), Bold Witnesses, Proclaim, Demonstrate 5) Baptism in the Spirit... More?Ephesians 5:17-19 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit...”a) Go on Being Filled!-Thirsty, Ask, Receive, Obeyb) Spirit Filled Life-Worship, Prophetic, Gifts, Service, Love c) Spirit Filled Church-Presence of God, Prophetic, Power, Kingdom of God Advancing6) Please! Anyone Thirsty?Lk 3:16 “John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”a) The Key is the Position of Jesus-Not Dependent on My Performanceb) Got Thirst?-Come to Jesus, Ask, Drink, Receive, c) Doubt? Fear? Unbelief?-Good Father, Good Gifts, Gateway to Fuller Relationship.

1) Jesus In Action: Jesus Preaches!Matt. 4:17&23a From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”...and teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.a) Repent! ”To Turn Away From Something/Someone & Turn To Jesus.”b) Gospel/Good News = “News That Brings Joy” -Religion = Advice, Christianity is News!c) The Kingdom of Heaven/God- Who Is Our King? Restoring the Kingdom.2) Jesus in Action: Jesus Calls!Matthew 4:19-20 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.a) Jesus Calls People to Follow Him- How Do We Respond?b) Jesus Comes First- Identity, Family and Career.c) We Join Jesus in His Call- Courage, Perseverance, Patience, Flexibility, Timing.3) Jesus in Action: Jesus Heals!Matt. 4:24 “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.”a) The King Has Authority- Jesus has Real Power Over Physical & Spiritual.b) Today? - The “Now” and the “Not Yet”.c) Come Follow the King! A Personal Call, A Kingdom Life, A Kingdom Community.

IntroductionDeuteronomy: 8: 2&5 “...that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not... Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”a) Why does God allow Temptation/Testing?- An opportunity for growth,b) Private (character) before public (ministry)- The Mission/Goal is a battle.c) The Tempter.- The Flesh & the Devil.1) Temptation: Jesus is Tested!Matthew 3:17 - 4:1 “...and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil".a) Identity (Doubt and Pride)- Tempted to misuse His power for selfish gain & not the Father’s will.b) Truth- Tempted to misapply God’s Word.c) Worship- Tempted to Worship an idol that promised power & fame. 2) Temptation: Jesus Overcomes!Matt 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”a) Jesus Has Won (**Where Adam and Israel had Failed)- Our substitute (cross) and our example. b) Weapons: The Word of God... "It is Written...”c) Weapons: The Holy Spirit.-The Spirit of Truth (Umpire), Sonship (Identity), Gifts (Worship).

The Baptism of Jesus: Matthew 3:13-171.Radio Silence Has Been Broken… Some would say that God does not speak today. Well that was, in fact, true, for about 400 years.• What precipitated God’s silence?• Back to the Garden, Adam and Eve walked together with God speaking to God as a friend.• Due to sin close communication, friendship was lost.• God’s intention has been to “re-presence” himself with his people.• How did God communicate with mankind? At a distance…• Until John the Baptist… The heavens opened… God is revealing himself affirming his Son who would be the reconciliation of all men/women to the Father.2.Jesus Was Being Revealed• The “suffering servant”… • Jesus didn’t need to be baptized because he was sinful.• He needed no cleansing for sin or repentance.• He did this to show his identification with us. • At long last we have a Saviour… Immanuel, God with us!•“How can I serve you this summer?” Jesus’ voice of servitude is very humbling.Helpful Scriptures relating to the serving Jesus...•John 13:6, Philippians 2:7, Matthew 20:28, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:153. An internal work! Finally there is a way (which was prophesied by Jeremiah 31:33-34)... Not by external laws but by an internal, tacit ability given by the Spirit.•John is saying, “I can call you to repentance and I can convict you of sin and I can baptize you externally. • But he’s coming to send the Holy Spirit. He alone can work internally."• The Holy Spirit regenerates us, causes us to be born again.• He gives us love for Jesus. • The Bible says, “No one can say Jesus Christ is Lord but by the Holy Spirit.” • He seals us for our salvation. • He guarantees our inheritance with God. He gifts us for ministry. • He sanctifies and matures us. • He empowers us. To be a Christian is to receive the gift of the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. • We are changed from the inside out.We can actually embrace repentance with joy (the turning away from sin) because the good news is that we have an internal mechanism in the Holy Spirit that gives the strength to do it. That’s the difference!If you are in Christ, you are beloved, you are a son, the Father is pleased with you. That’s where your relationship with God starts.In conclusion… Isaiah 42:5-9.

1) Preparation: Prepare for the King!Matt. 3:1&3 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea... For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”a) Preaching - A Prophet, A Voice, A Message, A Purpose.b) Baptism - For Everyone, by another, for future sins, running water.c) A Clear Path - What do we need to remove from our lives? 2) Repentance: Turn to the King!Matt 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” v. 8 “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”a) Repent: To change one’s mind - The beginning of our life in Jesus (Confession).b) Bear Fruit? “To turn around to new actions” - attitudes, motivation, behaviour & lifestyle.c) What do we need to change in our thinking/behaviour?-Worldview? View of God? View of ourselves? Purpose? Heart issues? 3) Spirit & Fire: Receive from the King!Matt 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”a) Spirit Filled - Personal, Adoption, Power, Fruit, Gifts. b) Cleansing fire purifies. Holiness = becoming more like Jesus.c) Today - Prepare, repent, receive... Jesus the King!

1) A Tale of Two KingsMatt. 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.a) King Herod -Appointed, Jealous, Cruel, Repressive, Power Hungry, Wealthyb) King Jesus -Royal Line, Shepherd, Servant, Poor, Outcast, Despisedc) Today? How Do We View Leadership and Power? and Jesus as King?2) A Tale of Two ResponsesMatt 2:11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh.a) The Chief Priests and Scribes - Knew the Scriptures but Didn’t Obey or Worship Jesusb) The Magi/Wise Men -Seekers, Outsiders, Gentiles, Sought the Messiah & gave Worshipc) Today? Religious yet Missing the King, or “Outside” but Seeking Truth?3) A Tale of Two PerspectivesMatt 2:13 “...an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”a) Faithfulness and Surprise - Many O. T. Prophecies Fulfilled yet Many Supernatural Wondersb) Opposition - Deception, Escapes, Murderc) Today? Be On the Lookout For God & Be Encouraged!

1) God's Presence With His People! God’s Heart: To Presence Himself with His PeopleAdam and Eve Walked with GodGod in the Midst (Promise Land) (see Ex. 20:18-21). E.g. Moses... Fire, Cloud, Mountain, Tent, Box God is in the House! (see 1 Kings 8:6-11). E.g. David & Solomon... Temple2) Jesus: God With Us!Mat. 1:22-23 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)". God’s Presence = Blessing. Jesus “Tabernacled” (see John 1:14)Saved and God is With Us (John 14: 18-23) We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16 & Eph. 2:19-22)God is Always With Us. Now, Future, Eternity (Rev. 21:1-4)

1. He is the Promised King - all the OT testament promises are found in him. What was said that He will do He has either already accomplished or He is coming back to finish.Count on it!2. He is the Sovereign King - throughout human history He stands as central and He has rule and reign and authority over your life and mine.3. He is the Saving King - Jesus comes into this world by great grace, not because of Israel’s righteousness but in spite of their sinfulness. “You shall call his name Jesus,for he will save his people from their sins” Not just for you and me but to fulfill the promise to Abraham, to reach all the nations of the world with the gospel.And if He is the King like Matthew says He is, then that has huge implications on your life. Through studying Matthew we’re going to see a King who reigns over sickness, and demons, and weather, a King who asks his followers to deny their own life and obey him unconditionally, and a King who ultimately reigns over death and promises to return in glory and gather the peoples before Him to give an account.