One City Church

Presidential elections are weeks away, and the tension keeps growing. It's a confusing time, we are all desperate for change but who do we trust, who to believe, who to vote for?

We need to reorient our hearts and focus back to Jesus, the King of Kings. The change that we seek and desire for this world and country flows from our allegiance, loyalty, and devotion to Jesus.

We continue to go through the book of Matthew and today we focus on chapter 4: 12-17. The great mystery of God work causes us to wonder what is he up to when things don't go our way. Naturally we want to seek control and try to right the ship of our lives, however our response needs to lead us to retreat and allow Jesus to engage in our hearts.

Living in the Presence of God is one of the great mysteries of our faith, however it is how we are intended to live our lives. However this at times feels impossible. Let's talk about one of the biggest hindrances that often times holds us back from living the abundant life that Jesus promises.

In Matthew 4: 8-11 we come to the third temptation and final temptation  that Jesus faces in the wilderness. In the previous verses we see how the devil tempts Jesus at his weakest point, but also in the second he tries the strength of Jesus' faith. In this third temptation the devil has nothing left but to try and entice Jesus to measure God’s favor in His life by focusing on the success of his work. 

Being still and silent is difficult for most of us, but it is essential for us as followers of Jesus. In the silence and solitude is where God's deep work is done in our hearts.

In Matthew chapter 4 the first few words we see the Holy Spirit leading Jesus to the wilderness. The Spirit doesn’t lead Jesus into temptation, but it does lead him to the wilderness where he will be tested and tried.

 Which raises the question: If Jesus is the Son of God, what is the need for him to be tested?

Is there another way?

Doubting is not a bad thing, it becomes harmful and dangerous when we hold on to that doubt and we begin to rationalize it ourselves. Doubt is meant to be taken to God. It is a vehicle that is meant to draw us closer to God.  Keeping the doubt to ourselves, ultimately sets us on a path where we debate and question if God's Love for us is true.

God speaking into our lives is not a mystical event that is reserved for a chosen few. It is something that is to be expected because he is close and personal to every single one of us. The closeness and interactions we see between Jesus and his Father, we can also experience if we desire it.

With 11 words God spoke into he heart of Jesus and gave him what his human heart needed. Gods words carried more than a message, it was a loving embrace that allowed Jesus to experienced God's unconditional love. In a fraction of time, God gave Jesus what man will spend his entire lifetime searching for, the love of the Father. In God we find an unconditional love which gives us a firm understaffing to who we are, and his love makes us valuable.