The Promise of a Fruitful Ministry (Matthew 4:1-25)

In Matthew 3, we see Jesus giving a promise to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and "fire."  He is promising to refine each of us after we come to Him in repentance.  He talks about threshing us (separating the wheat from the chaff) and then storing us in the secret place (His barn).  This is a great promise.  Jesus continues in Matthew 4:1-25 to give us another promise.  In this chapter, we see Him beginning the ministry that was given to Him by the Father.  Before He enters his ministry, he is tested and tried, tempted by Satan with a shortcut to everything He would desire...physical fulfillment of his hunger (after fasting for 40 days), rescue from pain and suffering, and world domination (power).  He overcomes the tempter by quoting the Word of God when He is tested.  We can learn to do the same thing.  We will be tempted by Satan to take shortcuts, to circumvent the plans God has for us.  The short, easy route may seem more tempting than taking the narrow path that is long and filled with trials.

Matthew 4:1-11 (NKJV)

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”[a]

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”[b]

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”[c]

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”[e]

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

I love how the Word of God says, the devil LEFT HIM, and then angels came to minister to Him. When trials come, temptations come, and we STAND on God's Word, and we quote it back to the devil in those times of weakness...the devil flees from us, then God sends angels to minister to us.  

Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Angels come to minister to us, whether we understand or not.  We may not perceive their presence, but they are sent to us for comfort and to give us strength after we have been through trials and temptations.  We must stand firm and speak the Word of God when those times come.

But that's not even the promise I really see in this scripture...

Here it comes!!!

Matthew 4:18-22 (NKJV)

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

There it is...Follow Me, and I will make you FISHERS OF MEN. (Words of Jesus)

The word in Greek for "Follow" is "deute" which is actually an interjection (much like we say WOW!, or COME!, a strong statement or exclamation).  "Deute" means Come Now!  Come!

Jesus was strongly stating COME NOW, COME WITH ME!!!  

The promise though is that He would make these FISHERMEN become FISHERS OF MEN.  Instead of seeking after lowly fish in the sea, He promised to give them a fruitful and meaningful purpose (ministry) in the kingdom of God...to become the first evangelists, teachers, preachers, prophets, apostles, etc.

The same promise is for us today.  COME NOW! FOLLOW ME!  Jesus calls out for us to follow Him, but He promises to give us a fruitful ministry and to bring others into the Kingdom of God.  

1 Corinthians 15:58

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I thank God for this promise.  I am writing this blog, reaching out to you with the Word of God, and His love for you because HE made this promise to me.  

PROMISE PRAYERS:

Father God, I thank you for calling me by name.  I thank you for seeing me not as what I was (as you saw these men as fishermen), but as what I would become in Your kingdom (a fisher of men).  I thank you that this promise is for all that you will call, even those who are still far from You.  I pray that you would help me to understand this calling and ministry better, and to always seek Your face and Your will to do all that you have called me to do.  I thank you for the promises that You have given in your Word, Lord Jesus, I thank you for loving me and dying for me on the cross.  I thank you for my salvation, and the purpose You have for my life.  I pray that You would help me to fix my eyes on You Jesus and always be ready to get up and move further toward Your voice as you call out my name.  Give me courage to COME NOW, and come quickly when You call me.  I praise You Father, and I give you all the glory for my life in Jesus name.  Amen.

Your sister in Christ,

Sarah