Mike's teaching on The Ministry of Jesus Christ, Part 1

Tue, Apr 28, 2009
Course Specific Materials

Dear Friends,

I want to examine with you the ministry of Jesus Christ from Matthew 4, that we might seek to follow in His steps. Over the next five days we will look at five aspects of the ministry of Jesus Christ, one per day. Matthew 4:12-17 will be our text:

¹² Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-
¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned."
¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 4:12-17

Over the next five days, we will look at these five aspects of Christ's ministry:

1-The sign to begin His ministry
2-The chosen headquarters-Galilee
3-The deliberate fulfilling of Scripture
4-The mission
5-The message

First, there was the sign to begin-John's imprisonment. God showed Christ when to begin His ministry. This is important. Jesus had been ministering in Judea (John 4:1) but not as publicly or as extensively as He was now to do. He could now go forth and do His work of ministry to the fullest. Why now? Why not earlier?

If Jesus had begun His ministry in full force before John's ministry had been completed, the loyalty of the people would have been divided. John was sent to prepare the way, and the way was not fully prepared until John was removed from the scene.

The first thought that I want us to consider is this: The believer who lives and walks in Christ will be directed by God. God led Jesus to ministry. We must keep this in mind, for we must seek to remain in Christ and be led by God to ministry. The believer who lives and moves in Jesus Christ will:

1) know God's purpose for his life.
2) know when to go forth to his task, when to carry out God's purpose for his life-just as Christ knew.
God will guide and direct His servant.

Please ponder these Scriptures, and then we will close with a second thought of application:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13

He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way. Psalm 25:9

that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will guide us forever. Psalm 48:14

You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

And I will lead the blind
in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

The second thought I would like for us to consider is this: Within every generation, God raises up witnesses to follow other witnesses in order to carry on the work of the ministry (Ephes. 4:11-12). Believers are not rivals. They are joint servants of the Lord who work together in their respective ministries. They are not to compete against each other. And when the time comes, when a servant's ministry is completed, he is to willingly step aside. Each one of you here at Setting Captives Free is a witness raised up to follow other witnesses, and to be a witness to lead others to full satisfaction in Christ. We are not here to compete with one another, nor should there be any rivalries, but rather mutual cooperation to fulfill the ministry to which God has called us.

In fact, consider this thought: a believer should prepare to have his ministry eclipsed, to move aside while God raises up others to carry on after he is gone. God does not wait until a generation is gone to raise up others. There would not be time for the new generation to take over and affect a smooth transition. God raises up new servants and thrusts them into the forefront as the older generation fades into the background. Such eclipsing should be accepted willingly and graciously.

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; Romans 12:3-6

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Cor. 12:4-7

¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Ephes. 4:11-12

³ Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philip. 2:3-4

So, Jesus was called to do His work, He was led into ministry. As we walk in the Spirit and remain in the Word we will likewise be led to ministry. God will bring students to us for our lives and words to impact. Be ready! And secondly, John the Baptist was merely a servant who pointed to Christ, and who was later eclipsed by Christ's ministry. We are here for a time, let us expend ourselves in ministry, for there will come a day when God will raise up others to eclipse our ministry.

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4

grace and truth,
Mike Cleveland
team member settingcaptivesfree.com