Matthew paints a stunning picture in chapter4:2–4: “After fasting forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.’ But He answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In this moment, Jesus—our King—steps into the wilderness to show us what life in the Kingdom really looks like. It's amazing that the enemy is allowed to strike at Him just as he strikes at us. And what is the temptation? Not something obviously wicked. Not something scandalous. It’s simply this: Do your own will. Take matters into your own hands. Stop waiting on the Father. You're hungry...make bread! Turning stones into bread was not sinful. Jesus would ... Read More about The Will of God is our Greatest Treasure
If Your Faith Hasn’t Changed You… Has It Really Saved You?
Matthew 3:7–8 — “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” The kingdom of heaven isn’t a place for spiritual pretenders. It’s a place where lives are transformed—from the inside out. God’s desire isn’t to polish up the old you; He wants to remake you into the likeness of Jesus. Think about that. New thoughts. New desires. New direction. Because the unmistakable proof of genuine faith is one thing: CHANGE. That’s why John the Baptist didn’t celebrate when the Pharisees and Sadducees showed up for baptism. He didn’t applaud their religious appearance. He exposed their empty motives. They wanted a religious merit badge… not a spiritual breakthrough. God wants to reshape our thinking until we carry the mind of ... Read More about If Your Faith Hasn’t Changed You… Has It Really Saved You?
Walking with Jesus: Stepping into the River
Matthew 3:5–6 “Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.” Picture it—crowds from every direction streaming toward the Jordan. Men, women, families—all stirred by the voice crying out in the wilderness. John’s message was simple, yet piercing: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And the people believed him. They longed to be part of what God was about to do. So, they came, confessing their sins, stepping into the muddy waters, letting John lower them beneath the surface as a sign that their hearts were turning toward God. But here’s the fascinating part: they weren’t actually entering the kingdom yet. Jesus would later say the kingdom ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Stepping into the River
Walking with Jesus: Faithfulness, Not Success
“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.’” — Matthew 3:3 John the Baptist was sent ahead of Jesus with one clear mission — to prepare the way for the King. The Son of God was about to step into a broken world, moving through the wild, rebellious territory of human hearts to proclaim a message of repentance and freedom. But before Jesus ever spoke a word, God sent John to break up the hard soil — to cut a path through hearts that had grown calloused and cold. John’s job wasn’t to complete the work — it was simply to begin it. And maybe that’s something we all need to remember. So often, God’s work in the human heart takes time — layer after layer, truth ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Faithfulness, Not Success
Walking with Jesus: Is Repentance Really That Important?
“Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” — Matthew 3:1–2 That one short sentence—“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”—wasn’t just John the Baptist’s message. It was Jesus’ message too. And when Jesus sent His disciples out to preach, it was their message as well. Clearly, God wanted this to be front and center. Obviously, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ was an incredibly important message to us from God, BUT it’s been relegated to insignificance by us today. So, why was repentance such a big deal to Jesus? Let’s think about it. If the people who heard John and Jesus really believed that the kingdom—the rule and reign of God—had come near to them, the only right ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Is Repentance Really That Important?
Walking With Jesus: Why the Kingdom?
As John the Baptist stood in the wilderness and his voice broke through centuries of silence, what was the message God sent him to proclaim? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) Then Jesus came to declare what God had given Him. What was the gist of His sermons? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) And when Jesus sent His disciples into the world, their message was no different: “As you go, proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 10:7) Three voices. One message. The kingdom. So why, after my seventy-two years of church life—sermons, songs, and Sunday schools—does it seem that so few sermons I've heard truly center on the kingdom of heaven? How could something so central to Jesus’ teaching be so ... Read More about Walking With Jesus: Why the Kingdom?