Words From The Word Of God
A topical, and expositional study from the Word of God, in order to Glorify and Exalt our Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; that we may reach the world with the Gospel, and grow in the Grace and knowledge of Him.. Grace and Peace to all, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(Isaiah 52:7) "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"(Isaiah 55 10-11) 10) "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:"11) "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."(John 3:16)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”(John 14:1-7) 1)"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."2)"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."3)"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."4)And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."5)"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"6)"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."7)"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."(Romans 10 :9-10;13) 9)"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."10)"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."13)"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
All Done For The Glory Of God and To Exalt Jesus Christ The Lord!!!
Words From The Word Of God
From the Shadow of Death to the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus' Call to Repentance
What happens when divine light breaks into profound darkness? In this examination of Matthew 4:12-17, we explore the powerful moment when Jesus began His public ministry in Galilee, deliberately choosing a region despised and overlooked to launch the most transformative movement in human history.
The passage reveals Jesus fulfilling Isaiah's 700-year-old prophecy about light coming to people dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death. This wasn't coincidental—it was the deliberate unfolding of God's redemptive plan. When Jesus heard of John's imprisonment, He departed to Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, precisely where Isaiah had foretold the light would first appear.
Jesus' inaugural message was startlingly direct: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." These words remain just as urgent and relevant today. We explore the true nature of repentance as more than mere regret—it's complete heart transformation, a turning away from sin and self-reliance toward complete dependence on Christ. This repentance, coupled with genuine faith in Jesus' finished work, forms the pathway from spiritual darkness into His marvelous light.
The darkness described isn't just external but internal—a yearning for meaning that remains elusive to those trapped in addiction, worldly pursuits, and spiritual blindness. Yet Jesus' light pierces through, offering not condemnation but salvation. His mission wasn't primarily to teach but to "give His life as a ransom for many," reconciling lost souls to God through His sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection.
Are you walking in darkness today? The same light that dawned in Galilee still shines. The kingdom of heaven remains at hand. The invitation stands open—will you respond to His call?
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
If you haven't received Jesus Christ by Faith, as your personal Lord and Savior; I strongly encourage you to do so before it is eternally too late!!!
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Hello and welcome to this another edition of Words from the Word of God. Thank you all so much for joining us again as we continue our study through the Gospel of Matthew. Scripture finds us today in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4. We've come as far as verse 12. Today we'll look at verse 12 down through verse 17. Today we'll look at verse 12 down through verse 17.
Speaker 1:Imagine, if you will, a world consumed by darkness, where hope feels so distant and the weight of life's challenges presses heavy upon every heart and soul. You know we don't have to imagine this world, for we are in a world that is full of darkness, full of lost souls who have been blinded by the God of this world to the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You know it burdens my heart each and every day for the lost souls that I see, especially all the ones out there that are so blinded to the truth of God's word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I see it. You know, on social media and because of my health issues I'm not able to get out into the public, so I don't see it so much around me in my immediate surroundings, but I know it's here. I know our community, here in Packley, we have serious problems with drug addiction and the sins of this world, and it just seems to be getting worse and worse. And we've been told in scripture that these things will wax worse and worse as time goes on and the return of Christ, for the church, his body, draws ever nearer. But for many, you know, this darkness is not just external. It's not what we see so much as it is what lies deep within, a yearning for meaning that seems ever elusive to them because they are falling under addiction. They are falling into the sins of this world. They are following closely and being led by their father all the way into the pits of hell and the eternal lake of fire. But imagine this and know this that as we look into scripture today, we see that into this darkness steps Jesus Christ, the eternal King and Savior. His light and this is the hope that we have, the help that we have His light, not our light so much His light that shines through us and our hearts as born-again believers. Through us and our hearts as born-again believers, his light pierces the shadow of sin. His light pierces the shadow of sin, offering peace, hope and redemption. Today we will explore the eternal purpose of his coming, why he began his ministry proclaiming repent, for the kingdom of heaven, is at hand. This message, fulfilled as we will read, fulfilled Isaiah's remarkable prophecy from over 700 years earlier and carries a profound invitation for every soul today, every lost soul, might I say.
Speaker 1:Today, the words of Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 1 and 2, describe in great detail, not only in his day, not only in the days of when Jesus came upon the scene to begin his ministry and his mission, but even unto our day today. They describe a people walking in darkness, living under the shadow of death. As we know, sin brings about death, but suddenly and it can happen this way today suddenly, a great light shines upon them. This prophecy of Isaiah, spoken during a time of hardship and rebellion in Israel, pointed toward a future in their time, a future Savior who would rescue humanity from spiritual exile. Now we fast forward all the way to here in Matthew, chapter 4, verses 12 through 17. We fast forward 700, excuse me, seven centuries, all the way to Galilee, where Jesus begins his public ministry. Galilee, a region that was despised and overlooked, becomes the starting point of redemption, a powerful reminder that God's grace reaches even to the lowest and the lowliest and forgotten.
Speaker 1:Read with me, if you will, in the word of God here, the gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verses 12 through 17, where the word of God tells us now, when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, now, when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, speaking of John the Baptist, he departed into Galilee. Jesus departed into Galilee coming from Nazareth and verse 13 confirms that and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Nephilim. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, by Isaiah the prophet, saying the land of Zebulun and Nephilim, by the way of the sea beyond Jordan, galilee of the Gentiles, of the sea beyond Jordan, galilee of the Gentiles, the people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them, which sat in the region of the shadow of death, light sprung up. From that time, jesus began to preach and to say repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I will invite you, if you will, to turn to mark's recording of this in mark, chapter 1, verse 14. Let's read what mark records, and we will, of course, get to this as we continue our study through the gospel, book by book, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. But I want to refer you to Mark, chapter 1, verse 14. He says Now, after that John was put into prison, jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye and believe the gospel Millions.
Speaker 1:At this point, millions and millions of eyes are turned from everything that is going on, everything that is going on around John the Baptist, as he would point to Jesus as coming unto him and say behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. At this point, millions of eyes, millions of eyes are turned to focus upon the Savior, jesus Christ, and from this point going forward, millions and millions of hearts, millions upon millions of hearts and lost souls will be turned to salvation through none other than Jesus Christ, the eternal king. The kingdom of God is at hand and the king has come. Jesus, having left Nazareth, settles in Capernaum and fulfills, as I said, isaiah's prophecy. The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up. That's in verse 16.
Speaker 1:Jesus' arrival is not just historical. Understand this. We are not just reading a book of history. We are reading the living and active and powerful word of God that cuts as a two-edged sword even to the dividing asunder of the joints and marrows and the soul and spirit. So we must understand there is a purpose for what we are studying today. It is not just a historical record. It is the beginning of an eternal mission to bring salvation to all lost souls.
Speaker 1:Why did Jesus come? Why did he come? What was his mission? What was his purpose? One of the most significant verses in the Gospel of which states that reason for his mission and his purpose we can find in Matthew, chapter 20, verse 28, where Jesus said and gives the answer of why he came he came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom. For many, the term ransom reflects the great cost Jesus paid to rescue humanity from the bondage of sin. He came to serve, heal and restore and ultimately, ultimately offer his life as the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity. He says I give my life a ransom. For many that means whosoever will let him come. No one is excluded. But Jesus' mission begins with a call Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand verse 17.
Speaker 1:Repentance and we've talked about this many times and as we go through the gospel we will talk about it many other times but it's very significant that we understand this Repentance is not simply regret for past wrongs or past sins. It is a complete heart transformation, a turning away from sin and rebellion and turning toward God in humility and faith. Jesus' call to repentance signifies the urgency of entering the kingdom of heaven, a kingdom that is both present now and eternal. The kingdom represents God's rule in the hearts of believers and the promise of everlasting joy in his presence. May I repeat that again In Jesus Christ. Understand this in Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God represents God's rule in our hearts of every true born again believer and the promise to all lost souls of everlasting joy in his presence. All who will repent can be and enter into the kingdom of God through none other than Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:Repentance and faith repentance and faith understand are inseparable in the journey of salvation. If you are lost and undone, you must understand this. Repentance and faith are inseparable in the journey of salvation, as I just read. As I just said, repentance is not simply regret for past wrong. It is not an emotional experience that leads to an empty prayer. No, it is a complete heart transformation by the preaching of the gospel, which we are doing this very moment, and turning away from the sin that you're involved in, that darkness that you're so encapsulated in and captured in and in bondage to, and the rebellion that you have against God and your rejection of Jesus Christ. And turning, turning from all that, turning away from all that, turning loose of all that and turning toward God by placing your faith in humility to Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1:Faith, you know faith, as we look at it, with repentance, you know, repentance begins with recognizing our brokenness before God. It is a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a sincere desire to completely turn away from it. To completely turn away from it. It is not merely a change in behavior but a change of heart. Jesus invites us to repent, not out of condemnation, for he says, the Father has sent not the Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world, that all might be saved. That's what he's come for, not for condemnation. And he invites us, he invites you, sinner friend, to repent, not out of condemnation, but because he loves you and longs to restore you and all lost souls to God, his Father, to bring us back, to reconcile us back to God, the Father. Faith as Jesus, as your personal Savior and Lord. It speaks of the foundation of a relationship. It acknowledges that only his sacrificial death and resurrection can reconcile us to God.
Speaker 1:Faith turns us from self-reliance to dependence on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Did you hear that turns us from self-reliance, self-dependence, self-promotion to full dependence upon his finished work on Calvary's cross, believing that he bore our sins on the cross of Calvary and in his resurrection, conquered death on our behalf, because we are dead in our sins and trespasses. If you will read with me in Ephesians, chapter 2. I want to turn over there right quick. The Lord has laid this upon my heart in speaking this message.
Speaker 1:He says in verse 1 of chapter 2 of the epistle of Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes, as he is inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so, he says and you hath he quickened that means made alive who were dead in trespasses and sin, wherein, in times past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, that is, who is directing your life right now, the prince of the power of the air, which is none other than the devil, satan, the accuser, the deceiver, the slanderer, the spirit that now worketh in the children of what Disobedience? Among whom? And this is very important because you need to understand I am not speaking to you in condemnation of your sin today, because verse 3 explains why I'm not speaking in condemnation Because we are all. Every born-again believer, if they are truly honest with themselves and, more importantly, honest with the Lord, every true born-again believer, if they are truly honest with themselves and, more importantly, honest with the Lord, every true born-again believer knows that we are no more than sinners, saved by grace, saved by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. So we've been at that point of repentance and we've been at that point of faith, of repentance, and we've been at that point of faith.
Speaker 1:Verse 3 says among whom also, we all had our conversation. That is way of living and times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature, the children of wrath, even as others. But I want to read on right here but God, who is rich, in mercy for his great love, wherewith he loved us even while we were dead in sins, hath quickened us, made us alive. Together with Christ by grace you are saved. Together with Christ by grace you are saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come, the eternal ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. And once he received Christ, he explains what we become in Christ spiritually become, for we are his workmanship, we become his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath foreordained that we should walk in them. Speaking of a heart, heart, heart transformation. That is what faith brings about.
Speaker 1:Repentance and faith. Imagine this you are lost in a dense forest with no way out. Suddenly, a guide appears, showing you the path to safety. That guide is Jesus. As you are lost in the dense darkness of sin and death, jesus comes along as the eternal God, the eternal King, directing you into the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus is that guy. He doesn't merely point the way, though. He is the way, the truth and the life, according to the gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 6. Repentance and faith are the steps by which we follow him out of spiritual darkness and into his marvelous light when Jesus declares the kingdom of heaven is at hand, here in verse 17,. Let's read that again Matthew, chapter 4, verse 17,. What does it say?
Speaker 1:From that time, jesus began to preach and to say repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Here he reveals the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The phrase at hand underscores the immediacy of his invitation. The kingdom is not just a distant hope. It is here, breaking into our very present reality through Jesus's life and ministry. For those living in spiritual darkness, this is the best news. Understand that, the best news that you could ever receive Salvation has come and the King himself is extending his hand to you. Today, through his life, death and resurrection, jesus has opened the door to the kingdom. It is a kingdom of forgiveness, it is a kingdom of peace, it is a kingdom of joy and it is a kingdom of eternal life, a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Speaker 1:Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 28, says wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. Let us have grace, let us take hold of grace, let us keep grace. Jesus Christ, for the grace of God which bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Let us have grace, let us hold to grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, in reverence and godly fear. And reverence and godly fear. Today, the light of Jesus Christ shines as brightly as it did that day in Galilee when he walked upon the scene to begin his ministry.
Speaker 1:The call to repentance and faith is just as urgent now, if not more urgent, because, as the kingdom of heaven is more closer at hand today, even as it was yesterday, that any moment. Right now, as the things are shaping up in the world, god's prophetic timeline, god's prophetic plan is being fulfilled every moment that passes and the return of Christ draws ever nearer, it is now as urgent than it has ever been. The kingdom of heaven is at hand and the call goes out still Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent. Turn from the world that you're involved in, turn from that sin that you're involved in, turn toward God by placing all of your faith and your trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, placing all of your faith and trust in him and him alone.
Speaker 1:If you feel lost today, sinner friend, I call you friend because we all have been there, where you're at right now. We have all heard the call of the Holy Spirit drawing our hearts to him today for salvation. We were at that point, one point in our life, and we turned from the sin, turned from the world that we were in at that point, and we placed our faith in Christ and Christ alone, his finished work, his death on Calvary and his resurrection, his ascension back to heaven, where he's seated at the right hand of the Father to ever intercede for all who will come to him in faith and repentance. We've been there and we want you to have, we want you to experience the saving knowledge of his gospel. We want his grace and his gospel to become a reality in your heart, just as it has our hearts.
Speaker 1:If you feel lost and burdened by guilt or searching for meaning, you're hopeless and helpless and you've lost all of hope and think there is no help, know that Jesus is calling to you today. He paid the price to ransom you from sin and death and he invites you today, sinner friend, to step into his kingdom. Let me ask you this Will you respond to his call today? Will you turn from sin and place your faith in the Savior, who gave his life for you, that he was resurrected. He died, he was buried for three days and he rose again to give and guarantee eternal life. And God accepted his sacrifice, his sinless sacrifice, to pay our sin debt in full. He paid that debt by every drop of his precious blood on Calvary's cross. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus, the eternal king, is reaching out to you. Don't wait. Come to him today and let his light transform your life, your darkness, forever.
Speaker 1:Folks, if today's message has stirred your heart and you are hearing that voice that strong, and you're feeling that strong pull to come to him today to repent and receive him by faith, if you're feeling that stirring of your heart, pray to God right now and confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and your Savior. Bring yourself into, as he comes into your heart, the Holy Spirit comes to reside inside of you and you come into that relationship with God, the Father, through the reconciling power of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. Just allow him to take hold today and bring you into that saving relationship with the Father. Through him, the light of his love is shining brightly upon you today, ready to guide you into his eternal kingdom out of the great darkness that you're in. Just as his light shined in Galilee over 2,000 years ago, his light is brightly shining into your hearts today.
Speaker 1:I also encourage you, born-again believers, to share if you have received Christ. You say this message is not for me. I'm already saved. Yes, it is for you, because it brings about that excitement that you once had when you first gave your heart and life to the Lord. You first came into his kingdom. It restores that great excitement and exuberance into our hearts, knowing what he has done for us, where we were, and what he has brought us to out of the darkness into his glorious light.
Speaker 1:It invites us and encourages us to share this message with others who may be walking in darkness, so that they too may see the glorious light of Jesus Christ shine into their hearts and lives of Jesus Christ shine into their hearts and lives. Thank you so much for joining me today and I look so forward to the next time that we can share in words from the Word of God, and I would encourage you to do this. If you have given your heart and life to the Lord today, write us or text us and let us know that we may glorify God together for your heart being coming into the kingdom, his kingdom, through his son, jesus Christ. Again, I thank you for joining us. I look forward to the next time that we can share words from the word of God. God bless you all.
